War of words between BJD corporators at BeMC meet

BERHAMPUR: Infighting in Ganjam BJD was out in the open after two factions of BJD corporators engaged in a verbal duel at the council meeting of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) on Wednesday.

Soon after the meeting started, the proceedings were disrupted as a group of BJD corporators owing allegiance to former MLA Bikram Panda, targeted the BeMC commissioner B Mishra over various civic issues. Another faction of corporators, who are believed to be supported by Ganjam BJD president RC Chayupatnaik and Berhampur mayor Sanghamitra Dalai, tried to defend the commissioner.

Sources said the group supported by Panda reacted sharply over the newly-constituted standing committee and other issues of the corporation following which the mayor and other corporators protested.