After twin defections, BJD RS members reaffirm trust in Naveen | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: All seven Rajya Sabha MPs of the BJD on Tuesday publicly reaffirmed their loyalty to party president Naveen Patnaik, dismissing speculations that some of them might switch to BJP. The unprecedented joint press conference comes on the heels of two recent high-profile departures to the BJP, which had triggered widespread speculation about more such defections.
While the MPs vowed “eternal allegiance” to BJD, state BJP president Manmohan Samal termed the display as a sign of growing insecurity within the regional party and the leadership’s lack of trust in its members.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi, BJD MPs refuted speculations suggesting possible defection as “false” and “fabricated”.
BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra emphasised that all seven BJD MPs remain firmly committed to the party. “All seven MPs of the BJD are with the party and will continue to do so till our last breath,” he declared.
Patra also addressed speculation surrounding the BJD MPs recent meeting with Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar. “Our meeting with the chairman was purely on parliamentary issues,” he clarified. The BJD leader expressed concern about attempts being made to drag the vice-president’s office into the controversy.
BJD MPs Sulata Deo and Munna Khan said the seven members stand firmly behind Naveen, their leader. Another BJD member, Niranjan Bishi, said those resorting to misinformation campaigns should refrain from doing so.
After Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar resigned from Rajya Sabha and BJD to join the BJP and re-enter the Upper House, speculation is rife that some more BJD members may follow suit.
Responding to media queries on the BJD members’ move, state BJP chief Samal said it shows that the BJD leadership doesn’t have faith in its members, which probably asked them to display their loyalty in public. “Their decision to conduct a press conference raises question mark about their motives. Their actions are inadvertently creating negative publicity for themselves,” Samal said. He, however, refused to answer whether more BJD Rajya Sabha members were in touch with them.
While the MPs vowed “eternal allegiance” to BJD, state BJP president Manmohan Samal termed the display as a sign of growing insecurity within the regional party and the leadership’s lack of trust in its members.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi, BJD MPs refuted speculations suggesting possible defection as “false” and “fabricated”.
BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra emphasised that all seven BJD MPs remain firmly committed to the party. “All seven MPs of the BJD are with the party and will continue to do so till our last breath,” he declared.
Patra also addressed speculation surrounding the BJD MPs recent meeting with Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar. “Our meeting with the chairman was purely on parliamentary issues,” he clarified. The BJD leader expressed concern about attempts being made to drag the vice-president’s office into the controversy.
BJD MPs Sulata Deo and Munna Khan said the seven members stand firmly behind Naveen, their leader. Another BJD member, Niranjan Bishi, said those resorting to misinformation campaigns should refrain from doing so.
After Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar resigned from Rajya Sabha and BJD to join the BJP and re-enter the Upper House, speculation is rife that some more BJD members may follow suit.
Responding to media queries on the BJD members’ move, state BJP chief Samal said it shows that the BJD leadership doesn’t have faith in its members, which probably asked them to display their loyalty in public. “Their decision to conduct a press conference raises question mark about their motives. Their actions are inadvertently creating negative publicity for themselves,” Samal said. He, however, refused to answer whether more BJD Rajya Sabha members were in touch with them.
