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Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 27:
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Tathagata Satpathy’s tweets on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trying to split the regional party have created ripples in the political circles as well as the micro-blogging site.
/sambad-english/media/post_attachments/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Tathagata-Satpathy-2.jpg "publive-image")
The Lok Sabha MP from Dhenkanal today took to Twitter where he alleged that the saffron party is trying to divide the party in the Parliament and in assembly citing the split in AIADMK. He further went on to say that BJP is trying to take away the party name and symbol.
Though the editor of a vernacular daily didn’t specify any name, he said that rumours are doing rounds about an MP to strike the deal for the national party. In the event of split, the BJP will try for early elections in Odisha, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
BJP hard at work to divide @bjd_odisha in Parliament, maybe even in assembly. They want AIADMK type split.
- TS
1/1— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017
They want to take away @bjd_odisha's party name & symbol. Rumors afloat that only one MP will swing this deal for them. Ha!
- TS
2/1— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017
If split happens, no matter how small, BJP will try for early elections in Orissa with Raj, Guj, MP.
Will EC play along?
- TS
3/1— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017
BJP National Convention scheduled on 15-16 April in Orissa. PM to attend. Intention to put pressure to make state govt defunct.
- TS
4/1— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017
Orissa assembly election scheduled in 2019 along with Lok Sabha. Orissa may not be considered cowbelt.
-TS
5/1— Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017
While Satpathy’s veiled attack on his own party’s leader has set the rumour mills rolling, Kendrapara MP was asked by a twitterati in which he replied:
🙏 He speaks w/ expertise, having once been suspended from BJD & joined another party. I don't have such experience, so will defer to his 😎😎😎 https://t.co/rb0TWckViZ
— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) March 27, 2017
Notably, Satpathy was suspended from the BJD in 2000 for anti-party activities. He then joined the Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP) but later joined the BJD before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
Reacting to the Twitter buzz, veteran BJD leader and Excise and Co-operation Minister Damodar Rout said: “BJD will never split till there is Biju legacy in state. Why BJP will try for split as there are Bibhisans in BJD?”
On the other hand, BJP leaders dismissed the allegations of any such move to destablise the BJD.
“BJP never creates rift among others to strengthen itself, it builds its own organization,” BJP leader Suresh Pujari said.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan too commented on similar lines.
“We are onto strengthening our party in Odisha. Our party has performed well in recently-concluded panchayat polls in Odisha. We have formed governments in four states after good performance in assembly elections. People have reposed their faith on the programmes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Development will be faster if there will be similar pattern of governance. If any government is frightened, what can I do?” Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan questioned.
In wake of the development, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said Satpathy's remarks were personal and the party has nothing to do with them. Whosoever tried to go against the party lines has been punished, he added.