Ex-BJD MLA slams officer for interfering in party affairs
Bhubaneswar, Jan 14 (PTI) Days after a BJD MP and aformer legislator accused an officer at Odisha CM's office ofinterfering in ruling party's affairs another ex-MLA of theBJD and opposition leaders today again slammed the bureaucrat.
"The BJD is not functioning properly. There is someproblem somewhere in the party. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaikremains in the dark on many issues," former BJD MLA fromDhenkanal, Nabin Nanda, told reporters.
Regarding the officer in the CMO, Nanda said it isnatural for an officer working with the chief minister to givesuggestions, but his advice should not be allowed to affectand harm the party.
Stating that steps should be taken to resolve theissue, the former MLA claimed that some leaders in the BJD areunhappy.
If the present state of affairs continue, it wouldaffect the party, he claimed.
Reacting to Nanda's statement, senior BJD leader andstate Food Supplies Minister S N Patro said the former MLA wasno longer in the party and the chief minister is capable oftaking decisions.
BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said the ruling party isfully united and there is no problem in the organisation.
Senior Congress leader Sarat Rout said the officer issupposed to confine his role to administrative sphere.
However, if the chief minister turns out to be 'weak'and is unable to take decisions, his officer would try to takeadvantage, he said.
Senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari alleged that allpowers are concentrated with the officer and even cabinetministers are made to bow before him.
Such a situation happened as the chief ministerheavily depends on the officer for everything, he claimed.
BJD's Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda and formerSatyabadi MLA Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh, on January 11, hadaccused an officer in the CMO of interfering in politicalaffairs.
The BJD had hit back at Panda and charged him with"speaking the BJP's language".
Senior BJP leader and Union minister DharmendraPradhan had yesterday claimed that infighting in the rulingBJD had now come to the forefront and people will throw it outof power.
Announcing his decision to quit the party, BJD leaderand former MLA Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh had alleged that ChiefMinister and party president Naveen Patnaik has "become apuppet" in the hands of an officer. PTI SKNSBN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.