BJD leader hints at conspiracy to sideline him

Bhubaneswar: Even before the impact of former MLA Rajendra Das’s rebellion could die down, there are fresh murmurs within the BJD with senior leader and former minister Sanjay Das Burma (56) making a veiled attack towards some leaders for allegedly conspiring against him.
Addressing a party gathering in Brahmagiri area of Puri district on Sunday, Das Burma is seen saying in a video, which surfaced on Tuesday, that the conspiracy to sideline him started in Bhubaneswar. “When I was elected to the assembly from Brahmagiri for the first time in 2009, Naveen Patnaik babu made me government deputy chief whip. In my second term as MLA in 2014, Naveen babu made me food supplies and consumer welfare, and employment and technical education minister. Despite my defeat in the 2019 election, Naveen babu appointed me deputy chairman of the state planning board,” Das Burma was seen saying in the clip.
He then added that the situation seems to have changed. “We have to be alert. A conspiracy against me started from Bhubaneswar. We have to give them a befitting reply,” the former deputy chairman of the state planning board added.
His comments are likely to ruffle feathers within the BJD — already smarting from the bypoll debacle in Dhamnagar, made largely possible by Das’s revolt against party candidate Abanti Das — as it looks to make amends in the December 5 Padampur byelection.
Das Burma said he hates politics of compromise and being the yes man. “Some people think that we will obey and execute whatever they decide or order. We don’t believe in such politics,” said Das Burma, who had earlier held the post of president of Biju Yuva Janata Dal.
Though Das Burma was once perceived to be a close confidante of the chief minister and was involved in decision-making in the party, he seems to have been sidelined ever since Jajpur MLA Pranab Prakash Das has been appointed as party’s organisational secretary in March 2020.
Sources in the party said Das Burma is apprehensive he may not get a BJD ticket in 2024 as the party may project a woman (the daughter of a late Congress MLA) in Brahmagiri as its nominee.
Despite repeated attempts, Das Burma could not be contacted while the BJD spokesperson also did not to respond. Since Das Burma made indirect comments against the party, he should clarify, a BJD leader said.
Political analysts feel many senior BJD leaders like Das Burma, who have been sidelined by a handful of young leaders in the party, could revolt in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
“Rajendra Das raised the banner of revolt. Now, Das Burma spoke indirectly against the party’s current affairs. This is a worrying signal for the BJD,” political analyst Rabi Das said.