Rift mars BCJD meet ahead of Odisha college, varsity elections

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury

Bhubaneswar, Aug 26:

Ahead of the election of the students’ unions of colleges and universities in Odisha scheduled on September 29, the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) today held its extended executive meeting to control dissidence in the students’ wing that emerged after induction of former Congress Chhatra Congress president Chinmoy Sahoo and other leaders.

The student leaders are reportedly dissatisfied over not getting a larger say in the management of the the organisation independently, which is broadly controlled by some young ministers who call the shots in the students’ wing.

However, party supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik advised the students’ leaders not to indulge in appeasement politics and work united to strengthen the party.

Patnaik also highlighted the developmental activities initiated by his government for the youth. “The state government is going to create more employment for youth in the state. Besides formulating a youth policy, we are also providing skill development training to the youth to ensure job opportunities for them,” said the BJD president addressing the student leaders and some young MLAs and ministers present in the meeting.

The youth leaders, including Arun Sahu and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, asked the students leaders to work hard in order to hoist the BJD flag in more colleges this time.

However, despite the appeal, many BCJD leaders are not satisfied with the induction of Congress leaders to the party as they apprehend that Chinmoy and Co will take their place gradually and their work for the party would be ignored.

“Chinmoy and others have just joined the party. So, there is no issue of dissidence. If anybody is dissatisfied over the issue, we will sort out it,” said BCJD president Byomakesh Ray.

He also claimed that the BCJD would capture about 95% colleges and universities this time as there is no opposition to BJD.