Bhubaneswar: Confusion prevailed over former Kamakhyanagar MLA Prafulla Kumar Mallik’s exit from Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as the party Friday claimed that it suspended the senior leader on charges of being involved in anti-party activities, while Mallik said that he had already resigned from the party. The party’s action came a day after Mallik said that he might quit the regional outfit if it did not function properly.
The former minister, however, rejected the allegation and asserted that he resigned from the primary membership of the BJD, citing “personal reasons”. In an order, BJD vice-president, Headquarters, Pratap Jena said, “Sri Prafulla Kumar Mallik, ex-MLA Kamakhyanagar, District- Dhenkanal, is hereby suspended from Biju Janata Dal for his anti-party activities with immediate effect.” Jena said that Mallik was elected four times on a BJD ticket to the Assembly, and party president Naveen Patnaik himself had campaigned for him. “He was made a minister and entrusted with key portfolios like works and mines.
However, after the BJD’s defeat in 2024, he has started speaking against the party. The commitment of a person is proved in difficult times. He has failed the test of loyalty,” Jena said. “I have resigned from the primary membership of BJD on personal reasons. The party has made me an MLA and also a minister. I thank BJD president Naveen Patnaik for giving me the opportunity to serve the party and the people,” the 78-year-old leader said. Alleging that BJD suspended him without serving any show-cause notice, he claimed: “This indicates dictatorship and lack of democratic process in the party.”
