Paradip: Even after 10 days since Paradip MLA Damodar Rout’s expulsion from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the state-ruling party is yet to take a decision over whom to pass on the organisational responsibility of the constituency.
Speculations are rife over the new flag bearer of the party in Paradip after the party called upon its activists from Paradip, Kujang and Tirtol blocks Friday evening.
During the meeting, the BJD’s future strategies to strengthen its hold in the area and decision over whom to field as its legislator candidate in the 2019 elections will be taken. It is also learnt that the name of Rout’s successor would also be announced within two days.
On the other hand, the party’s district president Bishnu Charan Das who is also the arch political rival of Rout has started fortifying his political arena. He had visited Jagatsinghpur district Thursday during which he held discussions with the party activists regarding various issues.
Moreover, Rout’s mostly obedient Paradip Municipal Chairman Basant Biswal and veteran leader Sumant Biswal had also been called by Bishnu. However, they skipped the meeting citing reasons that they had not received any direction from the party supremo.
Political fever has gripped the district with Bishnu’s public statement that he aspires to be the party’s pick for the next poll.
While many names such as Debashis Samantaray, Basant Biswal, Santosh Kumar Patnaik, Kulamani Samal and Sambit Routray are doing rounds to be the BJD’s next flag bearer in the district, the party is yet to name its inheritor within two days.
PNN
