Oppn lambasts Odisha’s ruling BJD over Pratap Jena’s new assignment

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Nov 2, 2023 at 7:52 PM

Bhubaneswar: Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress today targeted the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha for the appointment of former minister and Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena as a district observer of the regional party.

Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has appointed Jena as the party observer for Kendrapara district.

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The opposition parties targeted the BJD by citing Jena’s alleged involvement in the Mahanga double murder case of 2021.

The court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JFMC) at Salipur in Cuttack district had ordered trial against Jena in the double murder case.

The JMFC court had ordered a prima facie case punishable under Sections 302, 506 and 120 B of the IPC against the Mahanga legislator.

“The ruling BJD always promotes criminal elements. This has become crystal clear again with the appointment of Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena as the district observer of the party for Kendrapara. The court has already ordered trial against Jena in the double murder case. The BJD government has been trying its best to shield Jena. The people of Odisha are watching all this and they will give befitting reply in the future,” said BJP leader Lekhashree Samantasinghar.

The Congress party too criticized the BJD over the issue. “The BJD always gives importance to criminals and murderers in the party. This has been proved again with the appointment of Pratap Jena to an important post of the ruling party,” said Congress spokesperson Krushna Chandra Pati.