Bhubaneswar: In a jolt to the state BJP, which is gearing up for the ensuing Bijepur by-polls, the Bargarh district president of the saffron party, Narayan Sahu, Tuesday resigned from the organisation and announced his decision to join the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) December 3.
Contrary to Sahu’s claim, the state BJP unit, however, maintained that the district president has been expelled for anti-party activities. The party appointed Arupananda Sahu as the new state unit chief.
Earlier in the day, Narayan Sahu met BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence.
“The BJP lacks ideology. My selfless dedication towards the party from 1997 to 2017 was not valued. So, I decided to join the BJD,” he told the media here Tuesday. Sahu said joining the BJD is like “homecoming”, as he was a member of the party earlier.” “Biju Babu had offered me an election ticket when I was in the Janata Party (BJD). I believe in selfless work and service to people. Joining BJD is more like a homecoming for me,” Sahu said.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Basant Panda in a statement said Sahu has been expelled from the organisation for his alleged anti-party activities and his ouster will have no impact whatsoever on the by-polls.
Rejecting Sahu’s allegations, Panda said, “The BJP doesn’t depend on any individual, but respects all its workers. It (Sahu’s exit) will have no impact on the party’s prospects in the ensuing by-poll for Bijepur Assembly seat.”
Incidentally, Sahu had offered to resign from his post last month after former Bijepur MLA and BJD leader Ashok Panigrahi joined the BJP at a special function held in Barpali in the presence of two Union ministers from the state – Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram.
Bargarh district comprises five Assembly segments, including Bijepur. The Bijepur by-poll has been necessitated following the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu in August. While the Election Commission is yet to announce the date for the by-poll, political activity in the constituency has already gained momentum.
Meanwhile, the BJP is facing severe criticism from its own members in the wake of Sahu quitting the party.
“Chokoda (BPH) pest has infected BJP, and unless it finds an immediate solution the rot will aggravate,” senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said.
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