Treasury benches empty as MLAs rush to Patkura

Bhubaneswar: Many chairs in the treasury benches were empty in the assembly for the last few days as over a dozen BJD MLAs, including senior ministers, abstained from the assembly to camp in Patkura ahead of the July 20 poll.
It became obvious when speaker Surya Narayan Patro called the names of five BJD MLAs — Prashant Behera, Rajendra Sahoo, Pratap Deb, Ananta Narayan Jena and Priti Ranjan Ghadai — during the question hour on Tuesday. All of them were absent.
Reports from the ground suggest that at least one BJD MLA with associates is camping in one panchayat to oversee the party’s campaign strategy and ensure victory of BJD candidate Sabitri Agarawalla in Patkura. The party MLAs have been asked to camp in Patkura till Thursday, last date of campaign for the assembly poll, said party insiders.
With BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik set to hit the campaign trail in Patkura on Wednesday, the BJD leaders are leaving no stone unturned to make Naveen’s visit a grand success.
Sources in the chief minister’s office said Naveen, who will land in Patkura at 10 am will hold roadshows in a luxury bus used during the general election in all the three blocks — Derabish, Marsaghai and Garadpur. He is scheduled to address public gatherings by the roadside. Despite facing a tough fight from senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra in Patkura, the ruling party is optimistic of a favourable result.
Absence of BJD MLAs during the crucial budget session has not gone down well with the opposition as Congress and BJP leaders criticized the ruling party legislators. “Since many of the BJD MLAs and ministers are absent, I want to urge the speaker to adjourn the house till the end of Patkura election. This is very unfortunate that the poll is more important for BJD than the genuine issues faced by people of the state,” ridiculed Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati.
BJP chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi said 26 BJD MLAs of the total 111 were absent from the house on Tuesday. What is the point of running the house? said Majhi.
Responding to opposition allegations, government chief whip Pramila Mallik said the MLAs might be absent because of their personal issues or they might not be keeping well. The ministers remain present in the house for discussion on all important issues, said Mallik.