BJP pulls sulking Sahu back to party

BHUBANESWAR/BARPALI:In a volte face, BJP’s Bargarh district president Narayan Sahu, who had offered to quit from his post, on Tuesday said he will abide by the party decision and continue to work for the party. “The State leadership of BJP has rejected my request to relieve me from my current assignment. I will honour the decision of the party,” Sahu told reporters after his meeting with senior BJP leaders.

Sahu attended a meeting held at the residence of senior party leader KV Singhdeo where he was persuaded to change his mind. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, State BJP president Basant Panda, former minister Jaynarayan Mishra and party’s block presidents from Bargarh district.Protesting induction of former BJD MLA from Bijepur Ashok Panigrahy into BJP on Monday, Sahu had offered to resign from his post citing health issues. This led the saffron party to go into damage control mode. Earlier, national secretary of BJP Suresh Pujari had clarified that no decision has been taken by the party on the official nominee for Bijepur by-poll.

Sahu’s move was seen as an open revolt against BJP’s plan to field estranged BJD leader Panigrahy as its candidate in the by-poll. The BJP had been maintaining that Sahu was missing from party meetings as he was preoccupied with organising the ‘Mishran Parba’. However, with Sahu offering to resign, it became clear that all was not well within the BJP which is aiming to kick off its Mission 120+ plan in the by-polls.
Pujari had also said he knew Sahu for the last 25 years and that the latter is a committed worker of the party. Offering an olive branch, he said Sahu is fit to be a candidate for the BJP. Pujari, however, maintained that the core committee will take the final call on the issue.

In a bid to divert attention from the BJP’s intra-party rebellion, Pujari had further claimed that many BJD leaders would join the saffron party ahead of 2019 polls and are not able to do so due to anti-defection law. While there is no denying the fact that there are many in BJD who could join BJP if denied nomination, the timing of Pujari’s claim proved that he was trying to suppress the dissension in Bargarh BJP.
Moreover, the BJP does not have any explanation on the absence of its four Mandal presidents and Bijepur Zone II Zilla Parishad member Biswakanti Bihoi besides some other important functionaries, during the Mishran Parba. Sources said all these leaders are close to Sahu.

While Sahu may not have much influence in the polls, there is no denying the fact that he has substantial presence in Gaiselet block under Bijepur Assembly segment. After losing miserably from Bijepur in the past, the BJP is expected to put up a good fight with BJD which too is facing similar problem.