BHUBANESHWAR: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday issued a gag order asking leaders to raise their issues with him instead of the media, after senior BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahatab on Sunday criticised some party leaders in his second column in an Odia daily.
Mahapatra wrote the second column in a bid to clarify points highlighted in his previous article, highlighting loopholes in the party’s strategy to counter the BJP.
"If senior leaders have anything negative to say, they should come to me with their concerns and not go to media", CM Patnaik told media persons in response to queries about articles by B Mahatab that had triggered a row in the party.
Mahatab's second column was published on Sunday in Odia daily 'Prajatantra', edited by him.
Mahatab, who happens to be BJD's parliamentary party leader in Lok Sabha, said in his column that though the regional party's performance has not been as bad as the BJP claims, its vote share has reduced from 43 to 40 per cent.
The BJP's improved performance in the panchayat polls is mostly due to the drastic reduction in the Congress vote share, he said and added that party spokespersons should not reply to all BJP raised issues.
The manner in which spokespersons are replying to the BJP’s issues points only towards the weakness of the ruling party, he said.
Bhartruhari Mahatab said a reaction to what the BJP points out and setting the agenda after consultation and debate is a different matter. He also criticised the CM’s review of district panchayat poll performance where defeated candidates are not invited. "Will it not increase the cracks in the party," he asked.
Mahtab had come under sharp attack from senior party leaders for his article last week where he indicated infighting in the party. Several party leaders criticised him again on Sunday for the fresh write-up in which he sought to clarify his earlier article.
He criticised excise minister Damodar Rout and spokesperson Surya Narayan Patro for the manner in which they had reacted to his first article.
There was no need to write another article, but I wanted to clarify things which were blown out of proportion by news channels, he said.
Surya Narayan Patro said the party president has made it clear that anything negative should be conveyed to him directly. The very statement of the chief minister shows that he has found Mahtab's article "negative", said Patro, who had asked Mahtab to explain as his Lok Sabha election win from Cuttack four-five times, if there are cracks in the party.
Hitting out at Mahtab, BJD MLA from Barabati-Cuttack, Debasis Samantray sought to know the contribution made by the Cuttack MP during the panchayat elections held in February.