Chief minister and ruling BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said “appropriate action will be taken at the appropriate time” against the party dissidents after consultations with the senior leaders of the party.
Thirty-three dissidents led by Mr Patnaik’s erstwhile advisor and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra on Tuesday tried to topple the chief minister by splitting the party, but failed in their maiden coup attempt.
“I understand that there were some developments in my absence. I am overwhelmed by the support of party legislators, ministers and supporters. I will first consult senior leaders and others. Appropriate action will be at appropriate time,” Mr Patnaik told reporters and refused to take any question. The chief minister will hold consultations with the party leaders on Friday morning.
Earlier in the evening, the chief minister arrived here ending nine-day England trip. Tens of thousands of supporters greeted him at the Airport and Naveen Nivas and it took more than an hour for the chief minister to reach his residence, barely 300 meters from the airport as his vehicle waded through the overcrowded roads.
At least 33 legislators, including three ministers, on Tuesday had parley with party strategist Pyarimohan Mohapatra, sparking a speculation of the possible split in the party. The possible split in the ruling party, however, turned out to be a damp squib in less than 12 hours with Mr Mohapatra, going overboard to announce in no uncertain terms on Wednesday morning that he was not trying to topple the chief minister Naveen Patnaik, but warning him of “evil forces” around him.
Mr Patnaik loyalists have been working overtime to mobilise support for the chief minister over the past 48 hours. Since morning all the senior party leaders held a series of parleys at Naveen Nivas along with all the MLAs, MPs and ministers. A meeting was also held under the chairmanship of party senior vice-president and finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai on Wednesday. As many as 98 of 103 party MLAs and most of party MPs attended the meeting which resolved to extend their solidarity to Mr Patnaik.