Selection of Promod Sahu from Naktideul for the ZP president was done by the BJP State leadership, considering a future political game plan and the coming general election in 2019, said BJP national secretary Suresh Pujari here.
All the 13 elected ZP members also agreed to the proposal since they were convinced that this was part of a future preparation, Pujari maintained, adding that he has no personal grudge with former Sambalpur MlA and former Minister Jayanarayan Mishra.
Notably, Pujari condemned the attack on BJP State vice president and district observer Sameer Mohanty at Sambalpur by the supporters of Mishra after a candidate not in the choice of Mishra was selected for the ZP president post by the State leadership.
“Had I been vindictive to Jayanarayan, I would have suspended him earlier when I was the State president since he had committed many mistakes tarnishing the image of the party. But I had no such intention then or now,” Pujari said.
Pujari alleged that the supporters of Mishra panicked the elected members on the very day of election at arm points and forced them to vote for their supported candidate Radheshyam Barik.
Following the attack, 20 BJP workers, including a few elected ZP members, have been suspended from the party, Pujari mentioned.
All the senior leaders of the party including district president Ramachandra Meher and Sabita Nanda from the women wing were present.