I voted for UPA to settle scores with Naveen: BJD MP

Expelled from the Biju Janata Dal for supporting the United Progressive Alliance government in the trust vote, a defiant Harihar Swain on Wednesday said he did not do it for money but to settle scores with Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

"I have not voted in favour of the UPA government. I have worked against Naveen Patnaik who runs a monopoly government in Orissa," Swain told PTI after returning to Bhubaneswar.

He said he did not receive any money from Congress for voting for the UPA government and his intention was not to save the government but to ensure that Naveen Patnaik got 'the shock of his life'.

"He suspended me without any reason earlier and lifted it on a whim," Swain said.

Swain, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Aska seat in 2004 in BJD ticket, said he was in search of an opportunity to 'settle scores' with the BJD supremo.

Rejecting the chief minister's charge of 'betrayer", Swain counter-charged, "I have not seen a bigger betrayer than the chief minister."

"Naveen has been heading the government for last 8 years. Has any development taken place in Ganjam district?" Swain asked claiming the chief minister had betrayed the district from where he was elected.

Swain claimed he had once suggested to Patnaik to set up a spinning mill in Hinjili assembly sengment, the chief minister's constituency, to stop migration of people.

"Though he had assured me to set up a spinning mill at Hinjili, he did not keep his promise," he said.

Swain said when industries were coming up in other parts of the state, nothing was happening in Ganjam.

On the possibility of joining Congress, Swain said he was yet to decide whether to contest the next elections and he was not assured by any political party of nomination.

"I am ill. My health may not permit me to contest the next elections, but in case it permits, I will," Swain said.

Meanhile, BJD activists in Berhampur and Aska demonstrated against Swain for voting in for UPA government in the trust vote.

BJD vice-president and Energy Minister S N Patro who was instrumental in bringing Swain to BJD four years ago, said the Aska MP was not 'trustworthy" for any political party.