Raising questions over the validity of the State executive meeting of the Biju Janata Dal, which resolved to expel him, rebel MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra on Friday warned that the anti-Naveen campaign will be intensified.
“The fight of the Biju karmees (workers) against Naveen noukers (servants) will be intensified in the coming days,” Pyari told this paper after he was expelled from the party. The fight will continue till 27 lakh workers of the party will win against the sycophants, he said, adding that Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) is an organisation of workers only.
Rejecting the demand for his resignation from Rajya Sabha, Pyari said, “Why should I resign from the Rajya Sabha when the expulsion is not valid as per the BJD constitution? Expulsion from the party is not a criterion for disqualification of a Member of Parliament.”
Claiming that he continued to remain a member of the BJD, he argued that the State executive was held after two years and 10 months while the party constitution laid down that such meetings be held every six months.
Therefore, according to him, the BJD chief had lost the authority to convene a meeting of the State executive.
“Neither Naveen nor the State executive has any authority to expel me or any other member of the party,” he claimed.
Referring to the charge that he is collecting money in the name of OJM, Pyari said the Morcha is a movement and everybody has a right to collect money for a movement. “I am not going to any mine owner to collect money.”
In response to another charge that he has spread canards against Naveen, the BJD and other leaders, Pyari said he has said nothing against the party. “I have always pointed out mistakes of Naveen and other leaders,” he said.
Pyari said he will go to the workers over the issue of his expulsion. The party president and State executive are products of 27 lakh BJD workers, he said, adding that he will go to them. “Where was the State executive for the last two years and 10 months,” Pyari asked and said that it has been convened only when one and a half months of its tenure is left.
When a senior minister like S N Patro announces at a public meeting that he is a servant of Naveen and there is no protest, everybody should guess how the party is being run, Pyari said. The rebel MP also found fault with the process of organisational polls of the BJD.
The party president had extended the membership drive till October 31, but the electoral rolls should have been published by September 30, he said, calling the process illegal.