Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra once again courted controversy by questioning the leadership in the wake of party’s drubbing in the by-poll for zone II Zilla Parishad (ZP) in Nuapada’s Komna block.
The saffron party has failed to secure a single seat in the district, which is the home turf of BJP’s state president Basant Panda.
Speaking to media here Friday, Mohapatra said, “Last time also we were defeated in Nuapada panchayat polls. Hence, party national president Amit Shah should take serious note of this and think of future course of action.”
“Nuapada results will definitely affect the party and this calls for introspection,” the BJP leader quipped.
During his last visit to the state, Shah had claimed that BJP would win 120 seats in the next Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, BJP state general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan retorted, “Bijoy Babu should introspect about himself. Party is going on its own way and working for the state’s development.” BJD vice-president Surya Narayan Patro said, “Morning shows the day. From the election results of Panda’a home turf, one can imagine the mood of the people and ongoing political trend in the state.”
Notably, BJD candidate Ramnaresh Ahir has won the Komna zone II ZP seat while BJP was placed in third position. The Komna election could not be held earlier as the Orissa High Court had put it on hold. PNN
Bijoy Mohapatra questions BJP leadership
