Apprehending trouble from the rebel BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra, hectic activities are on at the BJD camp here ahead of the October 28 rally of Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) at Bhubaneswar.
The BJD MLAs and party functionaries from southern Odisha districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada are in a state of confusion ever since the split between Pyarimohan and Naveen.
Though senior leaders of the ruling party are trying hard to foil the rally, sources said many local BJD leaders are likely to extend their support to OJM leaving the party in an embarrassing situation ahead of the elections. A good number of party activists from undivided Koraput district are likely to attend the OJM rally, sources said. Pyari was in touch with some of his supporters from his stronghold, Koraput, during the last couple of days and the participation of some people in the OJM rally from here cannot be ruled out, said a BJD insider requesting anonymity.
On the other hand, a man claiming himself to be a supporter of Pyari said “we support the rebel BJD leader for his ideology, principles and leadership in the ruling party.’’
In-camera meetings are reportedly being held in BJD and OJM camps across the district. OJM has started distributing leaflets to lure more BJD rank and file to its rally, sources said. On the contrary, the local BJD leaders claimed that no one from their party is going to attend the rally. Describing ‘Pyari’ as a betrayer, the leaders said people have already lost confidence in him.