KENDRAPARA: The cracks in the BJD camp came to the fore on Tuesday when party’s Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda faced opposition allegedly from the supporters of former minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak at a public meeting at Mahakalpada attended by the Chief Minister. Supporters of both the leaders were also engaged in a scuffle at the meeting place.
Supporters of Nayak raised slogans against Panda near the meeting at College Ground at Mahakalapada, about 35 kms here and blocked his vehicle while he was on his way to the venue. They also used public address system to criticise Panda. Police swung into action and forcefully took away supporters of Nayak from the venue where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Nayak and Panda along with others were present on the dais.
Addressing the meeting Panda said, “I have been undertaking several developmental works in Mahakalapada and other areas. Nobody can stop me for doing good work in the area. We will not tolerate any goondaism in Kendrapada ”.
Later Panda tweeted “Attended Mahakalpada public event with CM. As expected, a handful of planted ppl raised slogans against me vs. thousands in favour of me”.
In another tweet he said, “Associates of a colleague who recntly resigned on moral grounds threatening me agnst participation today in a Mahakalpada event w/CM. “but I’m not afraid of goondas. it is the job of police to control them. I’ll go today & continue my 10+ days/month in constituency,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Nayak said “I have no animosity against Panda. We are all working under the leadership of Naveen for the development of Mahakalapada area”.
Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Kendrapara, Kedarnath Sahoo said, “The situation was so tense that security forces had to intervene”.
Meanwhile, Excise Minister and BJD vice-president Damodar Rout said, the incident was indecent. Police should not restrain a MP at the instance of others. An effigy of Nayak was also burnt infront of the Raj Bhavan at Bhubaneswar.
In Rajnagar, both the Congress MLAs of Aul Debendra Sharma and Rajnagar MLA Ansuman Mohanty were not allowed to address the meeting though they were present on the dais.
During his whistle-stop tour of Mahakalapada, Rajnagar and Kendrapara, in the run up to the three-tier panchayat election, the Chief Minister inaugurated 12 projects and laid foundation stones for 28 projects.