While the BJP has been eyeing to secure at least 120 seats in 2019 Assembly election to come to the power in Odisha, the Rourkela unit of the party is not only suffering from internal rift but also expressing the rift before the Press.
Interestingly while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the State frequently to strengthen the party base and on Saturday was addressing a huge gathering at Baripada, on the same day, certain senior leaders of the party here were briefing the Press putting the district chief in dock.
It may be noted that after Dilip Ray quitted the BJP, the party in the whole of Sundaragrh has drastically suffered and squabbling and leg pulling have been the order of the day. Since Ray’s exit, many political pundits were apprehensive on the future of the party here.
Many feel the BJP will be worst sufferer in Sundargarh district in coming 2019 elections and the party may lose both Sundargarh Parliament seat and Rourkela Assembly seat. While the speculation on the party’s future has been continuing for last one month, Ray returned to the city on January 2 from his foreign tour.
Interestingly, the internal rift has been all the more open ever since. As per sources, now the rift between BJP Rourkela unit president Jagabandhu Behera (who is known as the close aide of Ray once upon a time and due to the blessing of Ray he is conferred with the position) and State secretary Dhiren Senapati has widened while the youth leaders are victimised.
Sources said a couple of days ago, Behera appointed a youth leader Ankus Verma as the chief of the party’s youth wing for Rourkela in place of Debendra Bir Ganthia. In a Press briefing, Behera revealed that he is exercising his power after the green signal from the State authority and instructed Verma to form his new team within a week.
Accordingly Verma camp celebrated for the new assignment. But the next day, i.e., on January 5, Senapati and many other leaders like State executive committee member and former MLA Sankar Oram, Pramila Das, former district general secretary Prafulla Mishra and vice president Subrat Patnaik not only condemned the decision of Behera openly in a Press meet but also said the removal of Ganthia and appointment of Verma was illegal.
According to them in the last State executive committee meeting of the party, it was decided not to change any office bearers before 2019 elections. Despite this, Behera acted against that decision which is unethical. Senapati said he will discuss with the State leadership over the issue.
Ganthia being present in the Press meet said after knowing from media about his removal he contacted Juba Morcha State president Tankadhar Tripathy and Sundargarh MP Juel Oram but they expressed their shock as they were not aware of the development. Besides, Tripathy instructed him to lead the ‘Jabab Maguchhi Odisha’ chariot rally of the party in the district.
So in this situation from whom Behera got approval to remove him, questioned Ganthia. Even leaders alleged that Behera was unaware of party’s ideology and functioning.
Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations, Behera said the State committee has entrusted him for smooth functioning of party activities. He had brought to the notice of Ganthia’s negligence in party activities and according to their advice he removed him and appointed Verma. Besides, in the last State executive committee meeting, it was decided not to change any Nirbachan Mandal Pravari but it is not applicable for other office bearers, he said.