Bhubaneswar: All the three major political parties have stepped up their efforts to grab the Bijepur MLA seat lying vacant following resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. However, dissension has been a worrying factor for all the three parties.
After the BJP named Sanat Gartia as its candidate for the by-poll, party leader and former MLA candidate Ashok Panigrahi, has hinted at quitting the party. Panigrahi alleged that the saffron party has sidelined him like Damodar Rout.
Panigrahi, who had defected from the BJD in 2018 and lost the Bijepur by-poll that year to Rita Sahu of ruling party, said. “The party has ignored me during last general election and now for the by-poll too. No work has been assigned to me. I was also not named in the star campaigners’ list of BJP,” the BJP leader said.
Asked about whether he is going to quit the party, he said, “My supporters are unhappy now. I will talk to them and take a decision.”
Senior BJP leader Pradipta Naik, however, said Panigrahi has not been attending the party meetings. “He expects an invitation from Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for party meetings which is not possible. He should take initiatives and lead the campaign.”
Similarly, Congress is also facing rebelliousness as former Bijepur MLA and senior Congress leader Ripunath Seth is unhappy as party has denied his son Abhisek a ticket. The Congress party declared Dilip Panda as its candidate for the by-poll. State Congress president Niranjan Patnaik has called him Thursday and tried to appease the leader.
“I was disappointed after not being given any election responsibility. However, I spoke to the party chief today. He told me that as a senior leader my first responsibility is towards the party and I should shun my displeasure in view of the party’s interest,” Seth said.
On being asked whether he would campaign for Panda, Seth said, “Who is Dilip Panda? I will campaign for Congress in the Bijepur by-poll.”
Niranjan said Seth has not been given any responsibility as the party doesn’t want to restrict him to some panchayats like the party has done for other Congress leaders. “As a leader from the Assembly constituency, he (Seth) will campaign for the party in entire Bijepur,” said Patnaik.
Though no BJD leader has openly spoken against party’s decision, ticket aspirants for the by-poll are stated to be unhappy. Leaders including Pravat Singh, Bikram Singh Deo, Prabhat Aditya Mishra, Narayan Sahu and Pranay Sahu were eying for tickets. However, the ruling party re-nominated Rita Sahu.
Meanwhile, senior BJD leaders including ministers Prafulla Mallik, Arun Sahoo and Samir Dash along with party candidate have been campaigning in various areas of Bijepur while for BJP Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will hit the campaign trail Friday, said sources.
CM Naveen is likely to visit Bijepur October 17 and 18.
Similarly, Congress leaders will also join in the tail soon, party sources said.