Dissensions in the State BJP were reflected in the Amit Shah rally here on Friday as senior party leaders Bijay Mohapatra and Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray were conspicuous by their absence at the party’s much-hyped event.
Mohapatra and Ray are known to be opposed to the dominance of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the State party affairs as he is apparently projected by the BJP high command as the State’s Chief Ministerial face.
When asked, BJP State general secretary Pruthwiraj Harichndan, however, sought to explain away Dilip Ray’s absence saying that the MlA had intimated party State president Basanta Panda about his inability to come to the rally as he had to attend a court in connection with a case relating to alleged mining irregularities when he was Union Mining Minister.