BJD Suspends Senior Leader Prafulla Mallik Over Anti-Party Moves in Odisha
In a big shake-up for Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD), party chief Naveen Patnaik has suspended former MLA Prafulla Mallik for anti-party activities. The decision came on September 12 in Bhubaneswar, highlighting fresh tensions within the opposition party after its recent election loss.
An official order from BJD, signed by vice president Pratap Jena, announced the suspension with immediate effect. It targets Prafulla Kumar Mallik, the ex-MLA from Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district, for actions that hurt the party’s interests.
Mallik hit back at reporters, claiming he had already resigned from the BJD and informed party leaders about it. He didn’t hold back his criticism, saying the party has drifted far from its founding ideals. "The BJD fails to act like a strong opposition," Mallik added, pointing fingers at its shortcomings in holding the government accountable.
Jena fired back strongly, calling Mallik the "most opportunist leader in a century." He reminded everyone that Mallik won four MLA elections on a BJD ticket, with Patnaik himself campaigning for him. Patnaik even made him a minister, handing over key roles like Works and Mines. "But now, with the party out of power, he turns against us. This shows his true colors," Jena said.
This isn’t an isolated case. On Tuesday, several BJD leaders in Rayagada district quit the party. Among them were senior figure and former MP N. Bhaskar Rao, ex-minister Lal Bihari Himirika, and many workers. In his resignation letter to Patnaik, Rao expressed no personal grudges but said with a heavy heart, he’s ending his active role in the BJD.
These exits signal growing unrest in the BJD, as the party grapples with its role as Odisha’s main opposition amid political changes. More developments could follow as leaders voice their frustrations.
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