Bhubaneswar : Even as the elections are fast approaching, party-hopping continues in the state. In a major embarrassment to BJP’s Odisha unit president Basant Panda, his nephew Harischandra Panda Saturday joined the ruling BJD here in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Likewise, Salipur Congress MLA Prakash Behera has resigned from the party.
Harischandra said he joined the BJD after being inspired by the developmental works of BJD government headed by Naveen Patnaik. Naveen said “Harischandra’s inclusion in BJD will strengthen the party.”
Harischandra accused his uncle Basant Panda of working for BJP only and not for the state’s development. “My uncle also maintains an autocratic attitude,” he said.
The BJP state president denied his nephew’s allegation and said that he (Harischandra) is a grown up person and he has the right to take his own decision. “Above all Harischandra is not my son. Even my son is free to take his decisions,” Panda said.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Salipur Prakash Behera has tendered his resignation from the primary membership of the party. Behera is very likely to join the BJP.
In a letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Behera said after remaining in the party for the last 20 years, he decided to quit as he was ignored by the party’s state leadership.
“After being removed as district Congress committee president of Cuttack, I was humiliated by the leadership time and again. In spite of my appeal to the state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik, my grievance was not considered,” said Behera.
He also said he is yet to take a decision as to which party he would join, but added that his decision would be in line with the interest of the people of Salipur.
Senior Congress leader Ganeshwar Behera said, “It’s unfortunate that Prakash has resigned from the party. It’s a bad news for the party as he was a good leader and organiser. However, it will be a loss for him (Salipur MLA) rather than party.”
Another Congress leader said Behera will face a situation like former Congress leader Anup Sai, who had joined BJD, during 2014 elections.
A week ago former chief minister and senior Congress leader Hemananda Biswal’s daughter Sunita Biswal had joined the BJD.
In the meanwhile, newly joined BJP leader Damodar Rout’s daughter Pritinanda Routray has resigned from BJD. Pritinanda is a former BJD corporator of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
