BJD, Cong keep controversial leaders out of bypoll campaign

Bhubaneswar: Mired in controversy over various reasons, some BJD and Congress leaders have been excluded from the lists of star campaigners released by their respective parties for the November 3 Dhamnagar byelection.
While the BJD has dropped school and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash and Kendrapada MP Anubhav Mohanty from its 40-member campaigners’ list, the Congress has not included MLA Mohammad Moquim in its 30-member list of star campaigners.
Minister Dash has been in the eye of a storm for his suspected role in the alleged suicide of BJD Zilla Parishad member Dharmendra Sahoo.
Though the minister has rubbished the allegations, the opposition parties of BJP and Congress have been demanding his resignation.
On the other hand, actor-turned-politician Anubhav has been in the news for his alleged marital discord with actress Varsha Priyadarshini.
When asked why they were dropped as star campaigners, Dash and Anubhav refused to comment.
BJD sought to downplay the exclusion of the two leaders. A party spokesperson requesting anonymity said, “Our party president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik is leading the 40-member star campaigners’ list. It is not possible to accommodate each and every minister, MLA or MP in the list, which should not cross 40.”
Meanwhile, the ruling party said it would take a decision soon on whether or not the CM would hit the campaign trail in Dhamnagar.
Congress defended its decision to axe Moquim from the list. On September 29, the vigilance court here sentenced Barabati-Cuttack MLA Moquim to three years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with a loan scam in the Orissa Rural Housing Development Corporation two decades ago.
Besides, the Congress state unit is miffed with the 57-year-old legislator for voting for Droupadi Murmu, who was the NDA candidate, in the recent presidential election.
“Moquim has distanced himself from party activities. His exclusion from the list is an apt decision,” Congress MLA Suresh Rautray said.
Moquim said “I may have been dropped from the list. will campaign for our candidate.”