BHUBANESWAR:A felicitation hosted by senior BJP leader and former minister Sameer Dey in his Cuttack house for former BJD MP Baijayant Panda on Saturday has sparked off speculation in political circles here about the future course of action of the latter even as several BJD leaders maintained that it will have no impact on the political situation in the State.
Ever since Baijayant resigned from the primary membership of the BJD on May 28, political observers are waiting for next move of the Kendrapara MP though he has not revealed his cards. His meeting with Dey, therefore, has sparked off speculation though nothing concrete has emerged.
Dismissing the meeting between Dey and Baijayant at the former’s residence as a personal matter between the two leaders, Cuttack-Barabati legislator and BJD leader Debasis Samantray said Baijayant contesting election from Cuttack either for the Lok Sabha or Assembly elections next year will have no impact on the BJD.
Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said there is no reason for BJD to react over the meeting between Baijayant and a leader of another political party at the latter’s residence as the former has already resigned from the primary membership of the BJD and the Lok Sabha. The reaction of government chief whip Amar Prasad Satpathy was on the similar line. “There is nothing to react as Baijayant has already resigned from the BJD and kept himself away from the party,” he said.
Stating that Baijayant had come to his house to attend a social function, Dey said he has a personal relationship with the MP. The BJP leader, however, said there is nothing surprising if leaders of two different political parties meet. “Baijayant is a popular leader who has set a trend of dealing with the grievances of the people on a priority basis,” he said.
Dey said BJP will welcome him if he decides to join the party. “If he joins, our party will take a decision on his candidature for the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections,” he said.In interviews to different television channels, Baijayant has maintained that he has kept all his options open including joining BJP and is yet to take a decision on the future course of action. He was suspended from the primary membership of BJD for anti-party activities on January 24 this year. He resigned from the party on May 28 and as a member of Lok Sabha on June 12. However, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is yet to accept his resignation.