Orissa CM faces revolt by 30 MLAs

[1]

Naveen Patnaik

At least three ministers and over 25 legislators met at BJD Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra’s residence here in the city on Tuesday evening, sending a strong signal of possible changes in the ruling BJD.
The meeting, which took place when the chief minister is away in the United Kingdom on a nine-day trip, assumes significance because of the recent “estrangement” between Mr Mohapatra and Mr Patnaik.
The ministers who attended the meeting included food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sarada Nayak, women and child development minister Anjali Behera, transport minister Sanjib Sahoo.
Besides, deputy speaker of the state Assembly Sananda Marandi was present in the meeting.
Among some of the prominent MLAs who turned up at the meeting included Mukund Sodi, Bibhuti Balabanta Ray, Susant Singh, Sanjib Pradhan, Srinath Soren, Manoranjan Sethi, Rajendra Sahoo, Bhagaban Kanhar, Sarojini Hembram Kamalakant Nayak, Jiban Pradip Das, Sudarsan Jena and Pravat Biswal.
Once considered Mr Patnaik’s “adviser” and “second power centre” in the BJD, Pyarimohan Mohapatra was credited for bringing the party to power consecutively for three terms. Mr Mohapatra was “marignalised” in the party in the past one year. He was not consulted on major decisions, including the Athagarh Assembly byelections and the 2012 Rajya Sabha polls.
The MLAs who attended the meeting, however, avoided sharing with the media what had transpired in the meeting. “It was a normal meeting. We discussed about the petrol price hike and how to make the May 31 Bharat bandh call a success,” transport minister Sanjib Sahoo said.
The CM will return on Thursday. Political experts said the gathering at Mr Mohapatra’s house was a “show of strength” and may lead to a vertical split in the BJD in the coming days.
Sources said senior Congress leaders from New Delhi will arrive in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to stock of the new political development.
Another source said another group of BJD legislators owing allegiance to Mr Mohapatra were holding a separate meeting at a star hotel.
Pyarimohan Mohapatra returned to Bhubaneswar on May 22, the day Naveen left the state capital for his nine-day visit to England.