Odisha: Naveen Patnaik Expels Ganjam BJD Leader From Party

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday expelled president of Sankhemundi block in Ganjam district, Nilamadhab Raut, for indulging in anti-party activities.

BJD president Naveen Patnaik has ordered for his immediate expulsion from the party, an office order said.

The regional party has been witnessing an increase in indiscipline and dissidence in the home districts of Naveen. The party is reportedly grappling with infighting in six of the 13 Assembly seats in the district. With his failing health, seven-time MLA Surjya Narayan Patro seems to be in trouble in his own constituency. BJD leader and Deputy Chairman of Chhatrapur NAC, Laxmi Padhi too has opened a front against the sitting MLA Subash Behera. The statement of Gopalpur MLA and ousted BJD leader, Pradeep Panigrahi, about ‘the need for an orange revolution in Ganjam’ also created a stir, recently.

On June 1, the party appointed members of BJD Ganjam District Committee with veteran leader and former MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik being once again named as its president. The recent resignation of Assembly Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha, who was sworn in as new Odisha finance minister, was also seen as a tactic to reinforce BJD’s foothold in Ganjam.