BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy on Monday kicked off a major political storm by accusing the BJP of trying to create a split in the BJD.
In his tweet, Satpathy wrote, “BJP hard at work to divide BJD in Parliament, maybe in Assembly. They want AIADMK-type split.”
If a split happens, no matter how small, the BJP would try for early elections in Odisha along with Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. They want to take away the BJD’s name and symbol. Rumours afloat that only one MP from the BJD would swing this deal for the BJP, Sathpathy wrote in his tweet.
His statement was aimed at BJD MP Baijayant Panda, observed political observers.
When a Twitter user sought reaction from Baijayant Panda, he said, “He (Satpathy) speaks with expertise, having been suspended from BJD and joining another party. I don’t have such experience.”
Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said efforts are on to strengthen the BJP in Odishs. Already, the party has performed well in the panchayat elections.
“The BJP has formed Governments in four states and people of the country have showed faith on the pro-poor welfare schemes launched by PM Narendra Modi. If the same party is in power both at the Centre and in the State, development programmes can be expedited,” said Pradhan.
Satpathy in his statement pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the BJP national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar on April 15 and 16.