PARLAKHEMUNDI: Factionalism in the district unit of BJD surfaced here with a second Jana Sampark Padyatra organised in Kasinagar NAC on Saturday after the first padyatra taken out by Kasinagar block unit of the party on October 7.
On Saturday, more than 5,000 party workers including a majority of the councillors of the NAC, Zilla Parishad chairperson P Latha, block chairpersons of Gosani and Kasinagar besides district-level leaders led by former MLA K Narayan Rao took part in the padyatra.
Uma Nayak attended as observer from the party during the padyatra which started from Siali panchayat and ended on the outskirts of Kasinagar NAC.
On October 7, the padyatra was led by Kasinagar NAC Chairperson Sudharani, district BJD president Basant Das and State secretary of youth BJD M Pala. Tejeswar Parida was the observer.
Both the observers, however, tried to cover up the differences by stating that one rally is organised by Kasinagar NAC and another by Kasinagar block. District leaders of the party refused to comment on the issue.
Local sources in the party said rift among the local leadership, which has been going on for some time, is one of the reasons for BJD’s loss in Parlakhemundi Assembly seat.