The internal dissension and intolerance of members for one another in Jagatsinghpur BJD unit were exposed on Sunday. The party called an executive body meeting at district headquarters town on Monday but it was ignored by MP Dr Kulamani Samal, MlAs Rajashree Mallick, Prashant Muduli and Excise Minister Dr Damodar Rout, who is also the Paradip MlA.
Sources informed that the important BJD executive meeting was convened by party district president and MP Bishnu Das ahead of the Panchayat polls to chalk out plan for the party, besides carrying out a signature drive on the Mahanadi water issue. All MlAs and MP, including party’s block and municipality level leaders, chairmen from blocks, Zilla Parishad members and all statutory representatives of executive body were invited. The State BJD had deputed Dr Sarat Mishra as observer to witness the party congregation.
But the meeting started with thin attendance of invited members. BJD district president Das chaired the meeting accompanied by State observer Dr Mishra, Zilla Parishad president DD Mohanty, vice president Joutsana Ray, former MlA Jyotish Das, former ZP president Sabita Mohapatra, State executive member Kanaka Prava lenka, former municipality chairperson Minati Das and block chairman Rajat Patra and district BJD youth wing president Amarendra Das but district’s lone MP, 3 MlAs from Tirtol, Balikuda- Erasama and Paradip were absent, which created a flutter among the attending invitees.
Raghunathpur block chairman Rajat Patra admitted that intra party feuds are going on. The row between MlA Rajashree Mallick and MP Das has maligned the party image in public domain. Besides, Minister Rout is not admitting MP Das as party’s district head, he said, and demanded intervention of BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
However, attending BJD representatives expressing unhappiness requested State observer Mishra to report the matter to BJD higher-ups.
Sources informed that BJD’s internal conflict and infighting have posed a serious threat to its prospect ahead of the rural polls. Two days ago MP Das was disallowed to attend a college function at Tirtol by MlA Mallick’s supporters. Das too was not invited to the function of this year’s Kalinga Baliyatra at Paradip.