Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The war of words between senior BJD leaders — excise and cooperation minister Damodar Rout and Barabati-Cuttack MLA Debasis Samantray — that started Monday over Cuttack Mayors Anita Behera’s exit turned distasteful Tuesday with neither ready to give up the fight.
“He (Rout) sometimes makes statements as if he is an opposition member,” Samantray, who had earlier indirectly asked Rout to refrain from commenting on a party decision earlier, said Tuesday.
The Barabati-Cuttack MLA did not hesitate to say that if party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were so inclined, Rout could even face action for his ‘anti-party’ activity. On his part, Rout, who is also the vice-president of the ruling party, said Samantray is hardly aware of BJD’s ideology and pointed out that the Barabati-Cuttack MLA had once opposed Biju Patnaik.
Heated verbal exchanges had taken place between the two Monday when the cooperation and excise minister had termed Behera innocent and disapproved of the action taken against her. Samantray, a general secretary of the party, strongly objected to the minister’s remark and asked, “Who is he (Rout) to speak on the party’s decision?” The war of words turned personal when Rout hit out at Samantray, saying that the Cuttack legislator had once opposed legendary leader Biju Patnaik and even BJD. An equally vocal Samantray then advised Rout to concentrate on his own health and his constituency. BJD leaders have maintained silence over the public spat between the two senior leaders.
