The Jagatsinghpur BJP unit on Thursday boycotted the Jagatsinghpur Municipality Local Self-Government Day observation expressing displeasure over the selection of guests.
The party’s media cell head Ganesh Prasad Mohanty fumed that BJP was anguished over the selection of guests.
"For observance of this year's Local Self-Government Day, a decision was taken by the Councillors and Chairperson that each party will invite their State-level leaders to join the function. Acting on the decision, the district BJP proposed to invite Dhamnagar MLA Suraj Suryabanshi as a guest on the occasion and asked the municipality authority to issue an official invitation letter seeking the MLA’s consent.
But sadly, in spite of our repeated requests, the municipality could not issue the letter and the Chairperson remained silent over the issue till Wednesday. So, we boycotted the celebration on Thursday," informed Vice Chairperson of the Jagatsinghpur Municipality Rajendra Kumar Bisoi.
By getting BJP's support the Congress is in power in the municipality, and the party has an inadequate majority in the municipal council. If the issue could not be resolved the BJP will reconsider its support to Congress in future, Bisoi warned.
Sources informed that out of 21 Councillors from Jagatsinghpur Municipality, the Congress has seven Councillors after getting the support of three Independents and two BJP Councillors. Congress captured the municipality Chairperson post and blocked BJD though it has nine Councillors.