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Dissidence in the Biju Janata Dal worsens

Conflict within the 10-month-old Biju Janata Dal is escalating with the first meeting of the executive committee set to be held in Bhubaneswar tomorrow despite some politicians demanding that it be put off.

Union Steel and Mines Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik had constituted the 82-member state executive last month.

Patnaik's announcement of the new executive, which he has described as an ad-hoc committee, drew protests from several senior politicians who saw the move as unilateral, since he had not consulted the party's political affairs committee.

Party MLAs sent letters to Patnaik, voicing concern over the BJD's functioning and accusing him of encouraging factionalism by siding with one group and ignoring several senior politicians.

At least four members of Parliament and two members of the Orissa legislative assembly have taken strong exception to Patnaik's action and requested him to defer the executive body's meeting.

BJD leaders have also taken strong exception to a media statement circulated by former Janata Dal minister Kalindi Behera, a new entrant in the party, saying the meeting would be held as scheduled.

Behera's statement also said the executive body meeting would be held in Naveen Nivas, Patnaik's residence, and requested all the members to attend.

The statement said confusing news reports had appeared about the postponement of the executive body meeting. Behera described the reports as "baseless".

But senior BJD leaders are asking how Behera could issue such a statement without holding any post in the party. Some have also disapproved of the decision to convene the committee in Patnaik's house.

Senior BJD politicians Panchanan Kanungo and Prafulla Samal, both MLAs, who were earlier working for a reconciliation within the party, have also urged Patnaik to defer the meeting.

In a hard-hitting letter to Patnaik, they said constitution of the committee had created confusion and controversy. They pointed out that they had repeatedly requested Patnaik to change the party's style of functioning and keep groupism out to dispel the impression that he is acting at the behest of a coterie, but in vain.

Another senior MLA, V Sugyani Kumari Deo, who was also working for a rapprochement, has resigned from the executive committee and the political affairs committee in protest against the way the party is being run.

Party sources said if Patnaik goes ahead with the first meeting of the executive body, several dissidents, mostly MLAs, are likely to boycott it.

UNI

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