BHUBANESWAR: In a major political development, former MP and suspended leader of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the State Jayaram Pangi joined the BJP in presence of Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan here on Tuesday.
The prominent tribal leader from Koraput, who was elected four times to Odisha Assembly and once to Lok Sabha, said the BJD is doing exactly the opposite of what Biju Patnaik had dreamt about the State. “I was a disciplined member of the BJD and never indulged in anti-party activities. I still wonder why I was suspended from the party which did not take 40 minutes to spoil my 40 years of political journey,” said Pangi after his induction into the BJP.
Pangi, who held portfolios like Agriculture, Cooperation and Excise in the Biju Patnaik Ministry during 1990-95, said he did not set any terms and conditions for joining the saffron party. “My position will be decided by the party,” he added. Reacting to Pangi’s decision, BJD spokesman Rabi Narayan Nanda said, “It will not make any difference to the party. Several tribal leaders from Koraput have joined BJD.”
Alleging that Pangi was working for other parties while he was in BJD, Nanda said the former will repent in future for leaving BJD. Pangi was suspended from the BJD by party president Naveen Patnaik on charges of anti-party activities.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pradhan said Pangi’s joining the BJP will boost the party in the tribal-dominated Koraput district. Asserting that the people of Odisha have made up their mind for a change of Government, Pradhan said more BJD leaders will join the BJP in coming days. The process was started with the joining of youth BJD leader Amar Nayak at Badachana in Jajpur district on Monday.
Meanwhile, BJD MP Baijayant Panda indirectly blamed the party leadership after Pangi and others joined the BJP. He said resentment is brewing in the party as several districts remained unrepresented in the recent ministry reshuffle. “One gone yesterday, another today. Yet when I cautioned last week, (I) was contradicted. Now large sections unrepresented, resentment everywhere,” tweeted Panda.
Baijayant tweet adds to rejig resentment
Bhubaneswar: Even as resentment over Ministry reshuffle effected by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday continued to spread with supporters of several aspirants taking to the streets, BJD’s Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda commented on the issue pointing towards non-representation of a large number of districts. Besides commenting on widespread resentment in the ruling party after the reshuffle, Baijayant also tweeted about the desertions from BJD to other political parties.