Biju Janata Dal (BJP) party leader Jay Panda on Tuesday asserted that there is nothing out of line with his recent comments - including a lengthy column in a newspaper which is critical of both the party and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
"I deny any speculation in response to allegations including by a party colleague that he is manoeuvring either crossing over to the BJP or cleaving his party to help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).," Panda told the reporters here.
Earlier in the day, Panda also tweeted saying that his opinion piece follows the Chief Minister's recent diktat to introspect after the BJP emerged as the surprise runner up in local elections across Odisha.
"My piece is as a conscience keeper of the party in the spirit that Naveen Patnaik had asked us to introspect last month," said Panda.
Further Panda confirmed that widespread corruption and sheltering of powerful people committing criminal act are allegations that ring true in the coastal state and that other parties are gaining ground because of their dynamic new leadership.
The indirect compliment to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes as Panda's party friend, Tathagata Satpathy, claimed on Twitter that the BJP, in collusion with one MP is aiming to split the BJD in Odisha after which it will call for early elections.
On that Panda, asked by Twitter users to comment on whether he is the unnamed MP, offered a quick takedown of Satpathy.
Patnaik is serving his fourth term as Chief Minister, after he ended a long alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2009 election.
The BJP has scheduled its national convention next month in Odisha.
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