Odisha MLA smells vendetta behind his expulsion from BJD

BHUBANESWAR: Expelled BJD MLA Pradeep Panigrahy said the party took action against him on Sunday simply because he dared to raise his voice against the government’s alleged Covid-19 mismanagement in Ganjam, which happens to be chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s home district.
While the party expelled Panigrahy on charges of anti-people activities, he and his wife Sujata sought clarification about the exact nature of the anti-people allegations against him.Denying the charges, Panigrahy labelled the action as “political “vendetta”.
“I had written a series of letters to chief minister Naveen Patnaik as well as other senior government officers on the Covid-19 mismanagement and the issue of migrant workers in Ganjam district. Recently, I spoke directly with Naveen over phone after my attempts to arrange for an ambulance for the father of a BJD MLA of Ganjam district remained futile. Though the CM promptly intervened and resolved the issue, some leaders, who have been calling the shots in the party, were aggrieved with me,” Panigrahy told media persons at his quarters here.
Significantly, Panigrahy had recently expressed his displeasure over alleged monopoly of some bureauctrats in Ganjam and their reluctance to take him into confidence for smooth Covid management.
Panigrahy said after his telephonic interaction with Naveen, two prominent BJD leaders met him at his house here and expressed their displeasure with him for raising the Covid-19 mismanagement issue. “They indirectly threatened me of action and inquired about my daughter’s marriage. I could clearly make out that they wanted to sabotage her wedding. It was an act of vendetta against me. I had told them that I would resign from the party if the party did not want me any more,” Panigrahy said.
It must be noted that Panigrahy’s daughter is set to marry Akash Pathak, son of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Abhay Kant Pathak. The vigilance sleuths arrested Abhay Kant and Akash on Friday on charges of amassing ill-gotten properties. Panigrahy is accused of showing political patronage to the Pathaks and availing of undue benefits, including multiple air travels in chartered flights recently.
“I know the government can raid my house any time and frame me in the vigilance or any other false case. I am ready to face any fair probe. I am not scared,” Panigrahy, who gave a clean chit to Abhay Kant and his son Akash, said. Panigrahy said Abhay Kant was one of the best officers in the state.
Panigrahy, a three-time MLA and former minister, was once a close aide of Naveen and assigned to look after the party affairs in Hinjili, the assembly constituency of Naveen, after the 2004 election. However, Panigrahy was sidelined in the party after the 2019 election following his differences with the top rung leaders.
“I have been a disciplined leader of the party and discharged my assignments with utmost honesty and sincerity. I neither took kick backs from sand miners nor from liquor traders. I have no complaint against Naveen Patnaik, who is a fine gentleman. But the party should explain the nature of the anti-people allegation against me,” Panigrahy, who was included in Naveen’s council of ministers with important portfolios like higher education, science and technology and rural development (rural water supply) between 2014 and 2017, said.
The BJP’s Ganjam unit demanded Panigrahy’s arrest for his alleged nexus with the corrupt IFS officer and his son. BJD welcomed Panigrahy’s expulsion and said Naveen has already showed doors to several leaders and officers, who were caught on the wrong tracks.