Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 12: Adding to speculation over his possible return to the party, suspended BJD MLA Pravat Tripathy met Chief Minister and party supremo Naveen Patnaik Thursday.
However, the Banki MLA said it was only a courtesy call. “I attended the Assembly after a gap of four months Wednesday, but could not meet the Chief Minister as he was outside the state. That’s why I met him today,” Tripathy said.
Tripathy added that the issue of his suspension from the party did not figure in the meeting. “Neither did we discuss the issue of my suspension, nor was there any political discussion,” Tripathy claimed.
Tripathy was arrested for his alleged links with the AT Group – a major player in the chit fund scam – and was in jail for four months before he received conditional bail from the High Court recently. He was suspended from the party immediately after his arrest.
Tripathy said Wednesday that despite being suspended from the party, as an MLA he continues to be a follower of BJD’s ideology.
