Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Saturday expelled senior leader and former state finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai for anti-party activities.
"Prafulla Chandra Ghadai has been expelled from the party for anti-party activities with immediate effect," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters.
The expulsion came hours after local newspaper "Sambad" published excerpts of a yet-to-be published interview of Ghadai in which he purportedly questioned the leadership of Patnaik and accused him of being under the influence of a coterie.
The 74-year-old Ghadai, a close aide of late Biju Patnaik, father of the chief minister, was elected to the state assembly a number of times. He was denied a ticket by the party in the 2014 election.
Reacting to his expulsion, Ghadai said: "I have never done anything against the interest of the party and always had been a loyal party worker. I have nothing to comment. Let the people judge."
BJD spokesman Samir Ranjan Dash said the party expelled Ghadai because he was working to weaken the leadership.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app