The suspended Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, who is accused of plotting a coup against chief minister Naveen Patnaik when the latter was on a foreign tour, on Monday said he would take a pause for the moment and would not let his detractors take the advantage of his anti-hero image portrayed by media.
"I have realised that the more I speak, the more it will be against my image. So I have decided to keep quiet for the moment so that I would not let my detractors to cash in on my negative publicity,” he told media persons here on Monday.
The mutineer, who has been suspended by the party president Naveen Patnaik on allegation of hatching a plot to dethrone him, probably has taken the decision after talks of another coup attempt by him on Sunday triggered panic situation in the BJD, which compelled the Chief Minister to call an immediate meeting at his residence and to shake hands with his party leaders, whom he barely knew before.
Taking a dig at such reaction by Patnaik, Pyari said at least the so called coup attempt has produced one positive result.
"I am happy that after this incident (alleged coup planning), the chief minister has started recognising MLAs whom he never talked to or met before,” he said.
"But he has taken some undemocratic actions too. He is forcing the councilors of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar municipality to change their mayors. He is also trying to remove the Zilla Parishad (District Council) chairpersons and install persons according to his wish. This is sad,” he added.
Criticizing the Chief Minister's portrayal of him as 'beiman' (traitor), Pyari said the Chief Minister has never fulfilled the promises he had made during the last elections to the public of Odisha. He said Patnaik had never visited the Chief Minister's grievance cell even for a single day to listen to the pleas of Odias.
Commenting on the sacking of minister of state for urban, housing development and excise Sarada Prasad Nayak on Monday, the rebel leader said he had assumed that Nayak will be the first person to be axed following his brawl with the Chief Minister over his presence at Pyari’s house on the night of May 29. But surprisingly, Patnaik removed him later, Mohapatra said.
Patnaik on Monday recommended to the Governor to remove Nayak, MLA from Rourkela, from his cabinet.
Justifying his action, he said, ”I have known about Nayak's behavior from reliable sources. But I was kind till now. His behavior has been more than shadow of corruption.”
