Bhubaneswar: In a major jolt to the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray and senior party leader Bijoy Mohapatra Friday quit the organisation. Ray also resigned from his MLA post.
Ray submitted a letter stating that he is resigning from the post of MLA to the Assembly Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat Friday morning. Amat has accepted Ray’s resignation and said this will be informed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for necessary action. The Assembly Secretariat has also issued a notification in this regard.
Both the leaders also submitted a jointly signed resignation letter to the BJP president Amit Shah.
In their letter, the two leaders stated, “Turning blind to reality does not help anyone, neither does it serve any purpose. As self respecting politicians with decades of service to Odisha, we refuse to continue in the party as showpieces. We can’t be treated as furniture in the party, while the rootless talk big and project a larger than life image.”
Be it the Mahanadi water issue, or the unfulfilled promises of a second bridge over river Brahmani, the super-specialty hospital at Rourkela or the dreams of lakhs of jobs for Odia youth – nothing has actually materialised, they said.
“The well-meaning suggestions by us to you were construed as a threat by certain ego centric self-serving individuals who resorted to dirty tricks and a campaign was launched in our respective constituencies to try and deride us,” read the letter. Bother the leaders said interest of the state is supreme for them.
It is with deep anguish that I have decided to quit as the Member of State Legislative Assembly as well as from the Membership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). pic.twitter.com/pXMrezRU9H
— Dilip ray (@DilipRayOdisha) November 30, 2018
In the letter, they also mentioned about the party’s electoral defeat by a margin of 40,000 votes in the Bijepur by-poll and other by polls held at the panchayat-level, including in pockets of many self-styled ‘tall’ leaders.
Briefing the media here, Mohapatra said his decision to join the BJP in 2009 was taken in hurry and a wrong one. Then the BJP had shown its interest for Odisha, he said.
Asked about their next moves, he said they have not taken a decision as yet. “After Dilip returns from his foreign trip in two weeks, both of us will sit together and take a decision in this regard.”
While Dilip has decided not to contest the Rourkela Assembly seat in 2019, Mohapatra said he will take a decision whether or not to contest the forthcoming elections after a meeting with Dilip.
On the speculation on his joining the BJD, he said since the political scenario in Odisha is now in a state of uncertainty, he will take a decision in this regard after a break.
Talking about the Mission 120+ strategy of the BJP, Mohapatra said the party leadership has made a wrong assessment while formulating the strategy for the ensuing Assembly elections. “Even, while discussing privately, party leaders are admitting this blunder. Before announcing the mission, the party leadership should have had an informal meeting with the party workers,” he pointed out.
While BJD and Congress opined that the departure of the two leaders will be great loss for the BJP, the saffron party said this would have no impact on party.
Dubbing the BJP government at the Centre as a ‘jumla sarkar’, BJD leader and Health Minister Pratap Jena said, “From their resignation, it is clear that BJP government is a ‘jumla sarkar’. Be it Dilip Ray or Bijoy Mohaptra, whoever wants to join BJD, the decision will be taken by the party president Naveen Patnaik.”
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said “A few days ago, I had advised my BJP friends that living in glass houses they should not throw stones at others. They have not heeded my advice and and their glass house was already vulnerable and today it has completely shattered to pieces.”
Mishra said with the resignation of two senior BJP leaders, BJP has undoubtedly weakened.
Though Union Minister Jual Oram too admitted this, BJP state unit vice-president came down heavily on Ray and Mohapatra. He said both the leaders were not comfortable working with the party members.
“The DNA of Bijoy Mohapatra has the characteristic of forming a group within the party. But he could not succeed in the BJP. There are several instances where Mohapatra had deliberately provoked the party leadership so the party expels him,” he pointed out.
Mohanty said the decision of the former is a well-thought out plan to reap personal benefits.
Since CBI is investigating the complicity of Ray in the coal scam during his tenure as the Union Coal Minister, he was putting pressure on the Central and state leaders to withdraw the case against him, the BJP leader added.
