Biju Janata Dal suspended its star MP Baijayant Panda on Wednesday for ‘weakening it’.
The suave BJD MP from Kendrapara is a known critic of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The announcement about the suspension of Panda, who was said to be veering towards the BJP, was made by BJD vice-president and state minister S N Patro at a press conference in Bhubaneswar.
“Party president Naveen Patnaik has suspended Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda from the primary membership of the BJD,” Patro told reporters.
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 eulogise 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.
Shri Baijayant Panda has been suspended from primary membership of #BJD with immediate effect due to anti-party activities.#Odisha #Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/E5UTlNx2w7
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) January 24, 2018
In reply to all the allegations, Panda later tweeted that it was all conspiracy against him and that the allegations are false.
*I’m shocked at this news
*Very very sad @Naveen_Odisha didn’t see thru the conspiracy agnst me led by an IAS ofcr now controlling th party
*I vehemently deny the allegations agnst me, they are entirely false & baseless
*I will pray to Jagannath for guidance b4 i respond further— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) January 24, 2018