Taking tough action against the dissidents who allegedly planned to topple his government three days ago, Orissa chief minister and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik on Friday dismissed two ministers and suspended three senior leaders, including his erstwhile adviser Pyarimohan Mohapatra, from his party.
Women and child development minister Anjali Behera and transport minister Sanjeev Sahoo were dropped from the state Cabinet while BJD Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra, Jatni MLA Bibhuti Balabantaray and Cuttack-Choudwar MLA Prabhat Ranjan Biswal were suspended from the party.
“I have recommended to the governor to drop Anjali Behera and Sanjeev Sahoo from the Cabinet. Besides, three senior leaders have been suspended from the BJD for dissidence activities,” the CM announced at the state secretariat. The action came following two days of hectic consultations with senior party leaders on the May 29 rebellion.
Reacting, Mr Mohapatra said, “I’m very shocked. It’s a betrayal to me. For the last 12 years I had created an invincible citadel around him to protect him from a group of conspirators who have encircled him.”
Stating that some people had been poisoning the CM’s ears (against him) since February this year, Mr Mohapatra observed that the conspirators had succeeded.
“I have seen Naveen Patnaik’s style of functioning. He bites people and shifts the blame to me. I took them on my shoulders to ensure that his image remained intact in the greater interest of the party and good governance,” Mr Mohapatra said.