Dhenkanal district unit of BJP projected a united face and claimed to have sorted out the differences among different factions ahead of civic body polls at a press meet here recently. The party leaders claimed that they would go to election unitedly to bag more seats in civic bodies in the district.
Addressing the mediapersons, former Rajya Sabha member and senior BJP leader Rudra Narayan Pany and district BJP president Naresh Chandra Mohapatra said there were some differences among local leaders. But they have buried the hatchet and will participate in the election unitedly for the interest of the party and development of Dhenkanal.
This was first press meet by district BJP after Mohapatra was nominated as district president of the party.
Pany, former MLA Krushna Chandra Patra, Naresh Mohapatra, former Municipality chairman Sunil Sharma, BJP leaders Nabin Dalei, Ramesh Chandra Samal, Rama Chandra Patra and others were present.
However, nomination of Mohapatra, who was associated with BJD for several years, has upset senior BJP leaders. Former national council member of BJP and former district unit president Dipak Prasad Patnaik and senior leader Nabakishore Guru were not present at the press meet. Both Guru and Patnaik have been associated with the party for over 22 years. Guru said he was not invited and has maintained distance with present leadership for some reasons. Party sources said district leadership is yet to reach out to local heavyweights who may pose challenges for the party in the election.
BJP’s district president said he had constituted a coordination committee in consultation with senior leaders and they would all work together for the interest of the party.