BJD MP Panda Suspended From BJD for ‘Anti-party’ Activities
BHUBANESHWAR :Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday suspended Kendrapara MP Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda from primary membership of the party for indulging in “anti-party activities”.
BJD Vice President and Minister Surya Narayan Patro made the announcement at a press meet in Bhubaneswar. Patra alleged that Panda was acting against the interests of the party soon after the party refused his suggestion to propose his name for the chairmanship of the Lok Sabha Standing Committee on Finance
According to reports, there are allegations of “monopolistic utilisation of MPLAD funds” by him.Reacting to his suspension from the party, Panda tweeted: “I vehemently deny the allegations angst me, they are entirely false & baseless. I will pray to Jagannath for guidance b4 i respond further (sic).”
Panda expressed surprise that CM Naveen Patnaik did not see through the conspiracy. In the same tweet, he wrote: “Very very sad @Naveen_Odisha didn’t see thru the conspiracy angst me led by an IAS officer now controlling th party (sic).”
Mr Panda had been removed as the BJD’s parliamentary party spokesperson last year after he had written an article shortly after the rural body polls, criticising the BJD leadership, saying it was being run by “opportunists”. It was seen as an open challenge to the Chief Minister.
Over the next few months, he had been targeted by party cadre, usually verbally but there has been one instance in May last year when some people loyal to his rival leader threw eggs and slippers at him.The four-time lawmaker had anticipated some action in recent days and spoken of a conspiracy to remove him after the party ordered a probe against him.
Patro, while making the announcement, said, “Sri Panda has been directly and indirectly indulging in activities aimed at weakening BJD, whether it is the Parliament, state, constituency or media space — no opportunity was missed by Panda to criticise BJD and eulogies the opposition. His claims of being a founder member of BJD are totally false.”
He said Panda did not campaign for BJD candidates in elections to panchayati raj institutions even in his own constituency, and indulged in “anti-party activities”, supporting opposition candidates.
In his defence, and taking on those who blame him for misusing MPLAD funds, Panda pinned a tweet on his Twitter page that says: “@IndiaToday’s ranked Kendrapada Odisha’s #1 “most improved infrastructure” category. Pic: 1 of 52 MPLAD drinking water projects (5.2m litres).”
Earlier today, BJD’s Cuttack district observer Usha Devi, who was appointed by Naveen Patnaik to probe allegations against Jay Panda, submitted her report.
There are doubts on the impartiality of the probe as many believe that the observers probing the allegations are deliberately collecting feedback from the anti-Jay Panda factions.
(With Agency Inputs ),
