Bhubaneswar: A day after a road over bridge (ROB) in Odisha capital collapsed killing one person and leaving 10 others injured, State unit of BJP alleged that BJD MLA and former minister Arun Sahoo is a business partner of construction company Panda Infra Projects, which was constructing the flyover.

The Saffron party also demanded that BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should resign on moral grounds as he is in charge of Public Works Department (PWD).

BJP leader Pradip Purohit said Sahoo had favoured the construction firm which was once blacklisted for security issues and its case was sub-judice in Orissa High Court.

“The construction firm was once blacklisted and the case was sub-judice in the Orissa High Court. But Arun Sahoo had favoured the firm for his vested interest and the company was given different projects again. Why the State government did not move the Supreme Court then?,” asked Purohit in a press meet held here.

The BJP MLA also claimed that project was supposed to be completed at Rs 20 crore but the cost went up to Rs 44 crore due to percentage taken by officials. “The L shape project was changed to T shape,” he alleged.

The BJP leader claimed the Panda Infra Projects owner and Arun Sahoo went to Puri in one car the day Odisha CM returned from Delhi after receiving the ‘Best Administrator’ award and the construction company had given Rs 10 crore to BJD for its Swabhiman rally held a few months ago.

The Congress too levelled similar allegation on the ruling party for the flyover collapse.

“A former minister and BJD MLA has 50 per cent stake in Panda Infra Projects. Therefore, the leader is shielding the once blacklisted firm,” said Leader of Opposition (LoP) in state Assembly Narsingh Mishra.

Meanwhile, Sahoo said he is neither directly nor indirectly related to Panda Infra Projects adding that the allegations are baseless.

“BJP’s allegation is baseless. They should know that a person can’t contest election or hold the post of an MLA if he is found holding an office of profit or indulged in any profit making initiative. If they have any proof, they should put forth the corroborative evidence to cancel my Assembly membership,” dared Sahoo.