A day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik warned his Cabinet colleagues against airing statements involving Minister Sanjay Dasburma, party spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb on Wednesday cautioned all party leaders not to make any “negative” statements without the high command’s nod.
Interestingly, no leaders dared to come to the media against Dasburma after the Chief Minister expressed strong discontent over the conduct of senior BJD leaders on Tuesday evening.
leaders like Ministers Damodar Rout, Bijayashree Routray, MPs Bhartruhari Mahtab, Tathagata Satpathy and Baishnab Charan Parida, who were earlier critical of Dasburma, preferred silence.
On Wednesday, clearing the air about the Chief Minister’s warning, party spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said, “Some leaders, who are making statements on the plea of personal views, were asked to desist from doing so. However, if they want to speak on any topic and more so on controversial topics, they can do so either with permission from the high command (CM) or after a discussion within the party,” said Deb.
He added, “I believe everyone will go by the party discipline ( as desired by the CM).”
On Wednesday, besides Deb, two other party spokespersons Pratap Jena and Sameer Dash met Naveen Patnaik who reportedly asked them to issue the whip.
However, Damodar Rout who had earlier on the day targeted party spokesperson Sashibhusan Behera’s media statement on the CM’s warning to Cabinet Ministers even did not utter a word after Pratap Deb conveyed the strong message of the CM.
However, a lightweight party leader, Hussain Rabi Gandhi, told a TV channel that the image of the CM is being damaged for Dasburma.
“In past, the CM had expelled many leaders on the ground of shadow of corruption. In Dasburma’s case, there is proof of corruption as the CBI summoned him. Why is he still a Minister,” wondered Gandhi.