BJP not sincere about farmers’ problems: Sahu

BARGARH: After a game of hide and seek with the BJP, former district BJP president Narayan Sahu, along with his supporters, officially joined the BJD on Friday. It now remains to be seen how the BJD will capitalise on his presence in the party fold.

Sources said Sahu was feeling unwanted in the BJP after former BJD MLA Ashok Panigrahi joined the BJP. After having worked for the BJP for 20  years, he said he felt ignored and was not taken into confidence on the inclusion of Panigrahi in the BJP.

Joining at a BJD Workers’ Convention held at Bijepur, Sahu was welcomed into the BJD fold in the presence of Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya, Bargarh MP Prabhas Singh, Steel and Mines Minister and party observer of the district Prafulla Mallik, Handloom and Textile Minister Snehangini Chhuria, Housing and Urban Development Minister Niranjan Pujari and Labour Minister Sushant Singh. Speaking on the occasion, the BJD leaders said the outcome of Bijepur by-poll will set the trend for the general elections in 2019 and called upon party workers to work unitedly for the victory of the party.

In his thanksgiving address, Sahu said he will now work for the victory of BJD nominee Ritarani Sahu, who is the widow of Subal Sahu, whose death necessitated the by-poll. Admitting that he was feeling uncomfortable in the BJP on being sidelined during important functions, Narayan Sahu said the BJP was not sincere about problems of farmers. He said the BJP is going back on its poll promises and is only interested to grab power.