Bhubaneswar: Coming down heavily on party MP Baijayant Panda who is alleged to have taken the side of BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday said they are attacking his office as they don’t have any other issue.
“When they have no other issue, they attack my office. This is nothing new,” Patnaik told reporters. Asked if he would seek an explanation from Panda, the BJD president said “whatever appropriate will be done.”
The Kendrapara MP, who at present is facing stiff protest from leaders within the party for his alleged anti-party activities, had alleged Thursday that the Chief Minister’s Office has been interfering in the ruling party’s affairs and he was seconded by Pradhan, a Union minister and Rajya Sabha member from Bihar.
However, in his reaction, the Chief Minister only said, “I’m busy with my development work for the state. People are well aware of what’s going on.”
Earlier, ruling BJD leaders had strongly criticised Panda for his alleged siding with BJP. Ruling BJD spokesman and Rajya Sabha member PK Deb in his reaction to Panda’s comment had said that the MP is speaking the language of Pradhan, apparently keeping in mind the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
“That officers doing politics or indulging in politics is the statement of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Today, our Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda gave similar remark. Why such similarities? As the general election will be held in 2019, many leaders will change party. Some may join the BJD and some may quit BJD. Similar changes may also take place in BJP,” the BJD spokesman said indicating that Panda may switch side in the coming days.
PNN
