No let-up in wrangling over next K’handi BJD chief

The Pioneer, Dec 31, 2012

There seems to be no let-up in the infighting in BJD district unit in Kalahandi even as poll for a new president is scheduled to be held on January 4.

While a group of district BJD leaders are trying to oust BJD president Balabhadra Majhi, the latter is leaving no stone unturned to save his seat. The race for the district president post has begun in the party where some of the district BJD leaders want to change Balabhadra and are lobbying for Bira Sipka.

Former MLA of Dharmagarh and Kesinga Dhaneswar Majhi had sought the ouster of Balabhadra Majhi at a Press meet two days ago accusing him of neglecting the party workers and senior party leaders on the BJD foundation day.

Condemning their allegation, Balabhadra told the reporters at a Press meet on Saturday that he had already discussed with the former MLAs over phone but they organized the meeting on their own choice. Balabhadra accused that former MLABira Sipka had not attended a single meeting of the BJD in the district since last fifteen years.

Accusing former MLA Dhaneswar, Balabhadra said the former had joined the BJD from BJP and Bira Sipka had joined BJD from Janata Dal. They don’t have knowledge how to handle the party, he said. Regarding Captain Divya Sankar Mishra, Balabhadra accused that Mishra had not yet been the primary member of the BJD and hence he couldn’t be made the district unit chief. Balabhadra also accused Sarada Prasanna Swain of being involved in anti-party activities, saying that he had joined the BJD through Pyarimohan Mohapatra. “We have unanimously taken a decision for his ouster from the party,” he disclosed. Similarly, Balabhadra accused Kali Rayaguru as a Mohapatra protégé.

Meanwhile, Dharmagarh MLA Pushpendra Singh Deo alleged that a few party leaders were trying to hijack the district BJD chief post and hence were engaged in a bitter tussle, with even a few in anti-party activities. “We all are united and whatever decision the Chief Minister would take in the matter, we would accept,” said Balabhadra. Zilla Parishad Chairman Srimati Majhi, Bhawani Mishra, Pradeep Mund, district youth president Pramod Pattnaik, Anama Naik, Manoj Naik, Ashewar Bag, Rohit Bhoi, Akhyaya Pradhan and Dhabaleswar Mohapatra were present.