Sr leaders upset, more MPs likely to quit BJD: Satpathy

Bhubaneswar: A couple of days after slamming BJD chief Naveen Patnaik for not taking responsibility for the recent poll debacle, former BJD leader Amar Satpathy on Thursday said, more MPs of BJD are likely to quit the party soon.
Earlier two BJD Rajya Sabha MPs Minakshi Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar left the regional party and joined BJP.
“Many senior leaders in BJD are discontent and grumbling in private and have not expressed their views in public yet.But many things are going to happen soon as some more MPs from BJD are likely to quit the party,” said Satpathy.
One of the founding members of BJD and a six-time former MLA, Satpathy said, “I feel pity for those who are reacting to my comments. The party president should come out and state the reasons for the party’s debacle. As I am no longer a member of the party and now I am an independent politician I can speak about the party. Many senior BJD members are my friends and in touch with me”. Countering Satapthy, BJD leader and former MLA Sudhir Samal said, “All these questions are being raised as the party got defeated. If the party would have won, then everyone must be celebrating. When some problem arises in the family we must discuss it among the members and should not have gone to the media”.
Veteran leader Prasanna Patasani also criticized BJD’s functioning and interference of VK Pandian for which he had to quit the regional party. The five time MP, Patasani on Thursday alleged that Pandian had rebuked him for demanding Bharat Ratna for former chief minister Biju Patnaik and raising the issue in parliament.
“I was shocked when Pandian called me and asked why I raised the issue of Bharat Ratna for legendary Biju Patnaik in parliament. Pandian also opposed the idea of sending Gita Mehta-elder sister of Naveen Patnaik to Rajya Sabha,” said Patasani.
He said “We struggled and worked hard to form the party and made BJD but Pandian had thought of taking advantage of it. I don’t know why Naveen Patnaik did not tell him anything. Naveen Patnaik has changed a lot and is no longer the same person who did not spare anyone who did any wrong,” Patasani said.