Sources said, the party has taken the remark of Mahtab seriously in the wake of voice of dissent among several party leaders questioning Naveen Patnaik’s way of handling the party affairs
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today upbraided senior party leader and member of Lok Sabha from Cuttack, Bharthari Mahtab for expressing his displeasure publicly against the party leadership over the suspension of arrested BJD MLA from Banki, Pravat Tripathy from the party on Friday.
“It was unwise on his part to discuss his dissatisfaction in the media, rather he should have raised the issue at a party forum. Such act would not send a good message (for party workers) and create a dangerous precedence”, said Amar Prasad Satapathy, BJD spokesperson. Reacting to the arrest of Banki MLA, Tripathy, Mahtab had castigated the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) saying, the probe agency had assured the High Court that it will only interrogate the leader, but later backtracked and arrested him over charges of involvement with a chit fund company.
He also criticised the party leadership for not standing behind a senior leader like Tripathy. “It was improper on the part of party leadership to disown him and suspend him from the party immediately after his arrest by CBI”, Mahatab told the media persons who sought his response.
BJD has already defended its decision to suspend Tripathy saying the party leadership has zero tolerance for anybody accused of corruption. Some leaders also said, nobody should challenge the decision of party supremo and chief minister, Naveen Patnaik. “In a regional party like BJD, all the powers are vested with the party president. He takes the decision keeping in view the party’s image. In that case, why should anybody challenge his decision”, asked Damodar Rout, BJD vice-president and excise minister.
Sources said, the party has taken the remark of Mahtab seriously in the wake of voice of dissent among several party leaders questioning Naveen Patnaik’s way of handling the party affairs. Couple of months back, BJD had expelled its senior leader Prafulla Ghadei for commenting on Patnaik’s style of functioning and his over dependence upon a coterie.
