A war of words and letters has erupted after district BJD leader and Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) Chairman Kishore Kumar Mohanty inaugurated a bridge over the Hatia Nallah in Jammal gram panchayat of laikera block on June 3.
The bridge had earlier been inaugurated twice, once by none other than Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik and the second time by Jharsuguda Congress MlA Naba Kishore Das.
Accusing the Rural Development Department of insulting elected representative and murdering democracy, PRI members in a Press release have demanded a Privilege Motion in the Assembly to ensure that the State Government is careful in future and does not allow Mohanty to behave like an extra-constitutional authority.
They have also petitioned the Chief Minister in this regard through the Jharsuguda district Collector.
Charging Mohanty with misutilising the WODC funds as per his whims and fancy, they said he cannot propose and fund a project by the WODC and lay foundation-stones and inaugurate the projects to satisfy his ego after being defeated from the Jharsuguda Assembly segment twice in a row.
Recalling the background of the bridge, MlA Naba Das told a news conference that he during his first term in the Assembly had proposed two bridges under the Biju Setu Yojana in the constituency. He had got the proposal sanctioned and had laid both foundation-stone of the project as well as inaugurated it.
Mohanty had no role in construction of the two bridges and should not accept invitation as chief guest as he has been summarily rejected in the elections, Das said. He further said he would move a Privilege Motion in the Assembly over the issue of undermining popular mandate. Das also urged the Chief Minister to direct Mohanty to abstain from such acts.
Zilla Parishad President Renuka Kanshrali, farmer leader Jagannath Jena, laikera block Chairman Jogendra Naik, Kirimira block
Vice-Chairperson Sairendri Naik, Gsecy Siddhartha Sarkar and Congress Town president Bharat Awasthy were also present.