Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jun 19: 

All is not well in Odisha unit of BJP. It was pretty much obvious today when top leaders of the party including senior leader Bijoy Mohapatra, former President KV Singh Deo and Rourkela MLA Dillip Ray gave party’s executive body meeting a miss.

KV Singh deo Dillip Ray Bijoy MOhapatra Odisha BJP

Worse still, Mohapatra not only skipped the event, but also hinted at dissent in party ranks while speaking to reporters today.

Further, on the second day of the two-day long executive body meeting -- which is being held at Sundargarh to work out a strategy before the panchayat polls--, he called the agenda of the meeting “not important”.

He explained that he was unable to attend the State Executive body meeting because of pressing personal matters. “Besides, there was no important agenda for the meeting. That is why I thought of skipping it,” said Mohapatra speaking to reporters.

Speaking about dissent in party ranks, he added, "There is difference in opinion and dissatisfaction in every party. Same applies to my party too.”

Interestingly, former state unit president KV Singh Deo – who is allegedly unhappy over the selection of new state unit president and declined the offer of the legislature party leader – also skipped the event along with former Sambalpur MLA Jaya Narayan Mishra.

According to the party, both of them are in Delhi where Mishra is undergoing treatment.

Another big shot Dilip Ray, who refused to participate in Rourkela Vikas Utsav of BJP publicly and flew out of town a day before the event leading to cancellation of the tour of two union ministers -- Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar - also gave the event a miss.

According to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual oram, Ray is attending some important business meetings in Gangtok.