Revolt simmers in BJD over non-representation of district in ministry

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 7:

BJD workers from Sundargarh and Sambalpur districts have revolted over Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik not including anyone from the district in his Council of Ministers reconstituted by him today.

Some functionaries of the party’s Sundargarh district unit have threatened to resign en masse in protest against Sundargarh not being represented in the ministry.

“We are very much hurt. We are planning to resign en masse from Biju Janata Dal,” said Lalatendu Parida, Organisation Secretary, BJD Sundargarh district unit speaking to reporters after swearing-in of Ministers here today.

Party veteran, former Minister and MLA from Rajgangpur who had rushed to the state capital from his constituency expecting that the district would find a representation in the Council of Ministers at today reshuffle was a dejected man.

“Obviously, if a district doesn’t find representation in the Council of Ministers, the development in that district gets affected. I will try to persuade and convince them not to resign,” said Kisan in his reactions on his district not being represented in Patnaik’s Council of Ministers after today’s reshuffle.

Similar sentiments were expressed by supporters of Sambalpur BJD MLA Dr Raseswari Panigrahi. Dr Panigrahi’s supporters staged a demonstration in Sambalpur protesting against their leader not finding a place in the Council of Ministers.

“People of Sambalpur are very much hurt since our leader Dr Raseswari panigrahi was not given a berth in the Council of Ministers at today’s reshuffle. We are hopeful that the Chief Minister will consider our demand,” said a woman supporter of Dr Panigrahi.