Seven BJD leaders write to Naveen over Waqf Bill split vote
Bhubaneswar: Controversy surrounding BJD‘s stance on the Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha continues to haunt the party as seven prominent leaders, including one sitting MLA, sent a letter to party supremo Naveen Patnaik demanding accountability and action.
The letter, expressing deep anguish over party MPs split voting, was handed over to senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra by MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy and former legislators Anshuman Mohanty, Chandra Sarathi Behera, Bishnubrata Routray, Pranab Balabantaray, Rudrapratap Mohanty and Sambit Routray.
“The division in our parliamentary party’s vote has shocked BJD supporters and hurt all admirers of Biju Patnaik,” the letter read. All seven signatories, being second-generation BJD leaders from politically influential families, emphasized their commitment to secular politics.
Former MLA Anshuman demanded swift action, stating, “The main culprit behind this situation must be investigated. We need clarity to end the ongoing confusion.”
Meanwhile, senior leaders of the party held separate meetings at a city hotel and at Pratap Keshari Deb’s residence. Responding to media queries, senior leader Arun Kumar Sahoo tried to downplay the crisis, linking the meetings to ongoing organisational polls. “Deb is the party’s returning officer. Not every meeting should be connected to the Rajya Sabha incident,” Sahoo said.
He added that while the matter remains under Naveen’s examination, which the party chief as made clear, “Time has proved that Naveen babu takes appropriate decisions at the right moment.”
After attending a BJD meeting at a city hotel, senior BJD leader Shashi Bhusan Behera, while responding to media queries, said, “We sat together. Naveen babu continues to be the most non-controversial and supreme leader for us. We are with him. In any circumstances, if any outside force tries to weaken him, we will not tolerate,” he said.
The controversy has been simmering since BJD MPs took opposing positions during voting on the Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha, following a controversial social media post by Sasmit Patra, BJD floor leader in Rajya Sabha, leaving the vote to the conscience of members.
Responding to the series of party meetings and letter by seven second-generation leaders to the party chief, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, “All is certainly well in the party. The organisational election process is in the final phase and everyone is excited.”
The letter, expressing deep anguish over party MPs split voting, was handed over to senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra by MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy and former legislators Anshuman Mohanty, Chandra Sarathi Behera, Bishnubrata Routray, Pranab Balabantaray, Rudrapratap Mohanty and Sambit Routray.
“The division in our parliamentary party’s vote has shocked BJD supporters and hurt all admirers of Biju Patnaik,” the letter read. All seven signatories, being second-generation BJD leaders from politically influential families, emphasized their commitment to secular politics.
Former MLA Anshuman demanded swift action, stating, “The main culprit behind this situation must be investigated. We need clarity to end the ongoing confusion.”
Meanwhile, senior leaders of the party held separate meetings at a city hotel and at Pratap Keshari Deb’s residence. Responding to media queries, senior leader Arun Kumar Sahoo tried to downplay the crisis, linking the meetings to ongoing organisational polls. “Deb is the party’s returning officer. Not every meeting should be connected to the Rajya Sabha incident,” Sahoo said.
He added that while the matter remains under Naveen’s examination, which the party chief as made clear, “Time has proved that Naveen babu takes appropriate decisions at the right moment.”
After attending a BJD meeting at a city hotel, senior BJD leader Shashi Bhusan Behera, while responding to media queries, said, “We sat together. Naveen babu continues to be the most non-controversial and supreme leader for us. We are with him. In any circumstances, if any outside force tries to weaken him, we will not tolerate,” he said.
The controversy has been simmering since BJD MPs took opposing positions during voting on the Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha, following a controversial social media post by Sasmit Patra, BJD floor leader in Rajya Sabha, leaving the vote to the conscience of members.
Responding to the series of party meetings and letter by seven second-generation leaders to the party chief, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, “All is certainly well in the party. The organisational election process is in the final phase and everyone is excited.”
