Differences in the BJD’s Vyasanagar unit came to the fore on Saturday as two groups of the unit celebrated Biju Jayanti separately, almost in a hide-and-sick manner here.
A group of party leaders came to the statue of Biju Patnaik near the Court Chhak and garlanded it. Then they went on a motorcycle rally and garlanded another Biju statue in the Vyasadev Town Hall premises. The group comprised party’s Vyasanagar unit president Giridhari Barik, former youth wing president Sisir Rout, former MP nominee Fanidra Rout, Dushmanta Rout, Aman Das, Himansu Sekhar Panda and many others.
They claimed that they are the real and old ‘Biju Karmis’. They said they have been neglected by former Korai MlA Pritiranjan Ghadai and incumbent MlA Akash Dasnayak as well.
They too claim that due to their intervention, Ghadai didn’t get party ticket for the seat in the last Assembly polls. The group has resented the entry of a Congress leader into the party, sources said.
After their celebration was over, another group on behalf of Korai MlA Das Nayak led by Vyasanagar Municipality Chairperson Sabita Rout, Vice-Chairman Subas Bal and some councillors came and garlanded the Bijubabu statues at the same places.