Bhubaneswar: Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak is the fifth scam-tainted BJD leader to quit ministerial post unceremoniously in the past six years.
Prior to Atanu, Pramila Mallik, Pradeep Maharathy, AU Singhdeo and Raghunath Mohanty had quit their ministerial portfolios amidst scandals.
The minister was under tremendous pressure from Opposition parties as well as others who accused him of shielding SUM hospital owner in the aftermath of October 17 fire.
The first BJD leader who became a victim of a `700-crore dal scam is former minister Pramila Mallick who quit as women and child development minister February 5, 2011. Her department was the nodal agency which procured dal for mid-day meal scheme and supplementary nutrition programme (SNP) for 9.5 million beneficiaries including 5 million schoolchildren.
Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy had tendered his resignation to the Chief Minister in January, 2012 on ‘moral grounds’ after the Opposition accused him of shielding the culprits in a gang rape incident November 28, 2011 near Arjunagoda in his constituency.
BJD leader AU Singdeo had stepped down as excise minister February 9, 2012 following hooch tragedy in Cuttack and Khurda districts which claimed 33 lives.
Moreover, in March 16, 2013 ruling BJD suffered a setback when its leader Raghunath Mohanty resigned as law minister after his daughter-in-law Barsa Swony Choudhury filed a case of a dowry torture against him, his wife and son Rajashree.
Though several other ministers, including minister Damodar Rout had quit in the past, these five resignations would not be taken lightly in the annals of BJD history.
Sudarsan Maharana
Post News Network
