The absence of senior party leader and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena who is now in the eye of the storm over a sex clip purportedly featuring him and the suspicious death of engineering student Rishi, at the BJD foundation day function here raised many eyebrows.
Jena, who is also the party general secretary, preferred to remain indoors reportedly to avert further embarrassment for party high command and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who presided over the meeting.
Jena, on his part, “clarified” that he had earlier sought prior permission from the party supremo for his absence.
“I am attending my ailing mother, who has been bedridden for last three months. Hence, I sought permission from the party supremo for my absence,” said Jena.