The infighting in the ruling BJD intensified on Friday, with party president Naveen Patnaik and rebel leader Pyarimohan Mohapatra accusing each other of making attempts to destablise the party.
“Naveen Patnaik has lost the right to continue as the president of BJD since July 10, 2010 as he has not convened any executive meeting as required by the party’s constitution. Hence, he is unfit for the post of president,” Mr Mohapatra told reporters at a crowded press conference.
Referring to his suspension on June 1, Mr Mohapatra, a Rajya Sabha member, said the action against him was “illegal” and he was very much within the BJD as its member. “How can Naveen Patnaik suspend me when he has ceased to be the president of the party since July 2010? The action against me and other leaders, including Jagnyeswar Babu, is also illegal,” Mr Mohapatra, who formed the Orissa Jana Morcha (OJM) recently, said.
Refuting that the newly-floated OJM was a separate political platform, he said the new organisation was very much a part of the BJD and aimed at cleansing the “unconstitutional” elements within the BJD.
Mr Mohapatra, who was dubbed a traitor by the BJD president after the May 29 coup attempt, appeared still nurturing a hope to make a comeback to the centrestage politics in the BJD.
“Every family faces some disruptions at some of time. All the family members sit together and sort out the issues amicably through mutual discussions. If he (Mr Patnaik) wants to talk on the present situation in the BJD, I will,” he said, replying to a question. Stating that the OJM would strive to develop inner party democracy, Mr Mohapatra claimed he and other members of his platform continued to be part of the ruling party.
“Caucus has developed in the party, thereby giving democratic functioning a goodbye,” he said.