BHUBANESWAR: A day after former chief minister and nine-time MP Giridhar Gamang quit the Congress speculation is rife in political circles here over the next course of action of the veteran tribal leader.
Though his son Sisir Gamang had indicated that the senior Gamang is likely to join the BJP, BJD vice-president and excise minister Damodar Rout today said that the ruling party is not against taking the tribal leader into its fold.
"If Giridhar Gamang wants, we have no objection to his joining the BJD," Rout told mediapersons here today. Stating that BJD is a large party and has accepted leaders from different political parties including Gamang's wife Hema Gamang in the past, Rout said "his (Gamang) wife is already in the BJD. I do not think any problem to accommodate the former chief minister." Hema had unsuccessfully contested as a BJD candidate from Laxmipur assembly seat in Koraput district in 2014 general elections.
Gamang, however, said that he has not contacted any political party. "I did not resign from the Congress to join another political party," he said. BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb also maintained that the party has not made any formal proposal to Gamang. Deb said that if the Congress leader approached the BJD, the party will consider the proposal.
Political circles here, however, maintained that the Gamang met several senior BJP leaders at New Delhi last week including union minister Jual Oram at New Delhi last week. However, replying to a question about Gamang joining BJP, Oram said that BJP central leaders are competent to take a decision in this regard.