BJD infighting soars ahead of rebel rally

A faction of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) accused its counterpart of trying to foil a crucial rally of the party’s dissatisfied leaders scheduled to be held on October 28 in Bhubaneswar.

Suspended BJD MP, Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, in a letter to the Chief Minister on Friday alleged that ministers and officers of the government were threatening people and vehicle owners not to attend the rally, which is organised under the aegis of his newly launched forum Odisha Jan Manch. “Minister Arun Sahu along with RTO (regional transport officer) intimidated the vehicle owners at Nayagarh and at Ranpur yesterday,” Mohapatra said. The letter also accused RTOs of other areas such as Kendrapara and Bhubaneswar of threatening vehicle owners not to engage their vehicles for the rally.

“If the head of the government indulges in such highly illegal, undemocratic and unconstitutional means, can one say that the rule of law exists in Odisha,” asked Mohapatra. Responding to the allegations, the Chief Minister said, these are “false and baseless”.

Meanwhile, the leader of BJD youth wing, Sanjaya Das Burma demanded resignation of Mohapatra on moral grounds. He said the Chief Minister should sack the rebel leader for engaging in anti-party activities.

Members of Odisha Jana Morcha have said that it is an intra-party forum created to strengthen the party.