KalingaTV News Network
Puri: Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda, who was recently suspended from the primary membership of Biju Janata Dal (BJD), arrived here today to offer prayer at Puri Srimandir and seek blessings of Lord Jagannath for his future course of action.
Panda was accompanied by over a dozen of local BJD leaders during his Srimandir visit. A large number of BJD workers and curious onlookers gathered to watch the high profile MP.
Later, Panda visited Biju Patnaik memorial near Swargadwar in the city and offered floral tribute to the legendary leader, after whom the BJD was named.
Meanwhile, political pundits have buzzed that Panda’s visit to Puri Srimandir and Biju Patnaik memorial is a strategy to garner sympathy from people of the state as well as some of senior party leaders, who have been side-lined by the BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in last few months.
Yesterday, a group of BJD leaders under Kendrapara Parliamentary constituency including Health Minister Pratap Jena, MLAs Atanu Sabyasachi and Bed Prakash Agarwal organised a press meet in Bhubaneswar demanding immediate resignation of Panda from the Lok Sabha on moral grounds.
“Panda has cheated and misled the party, party leadership and above all the people of Kendrapara Lok sabha constituency about his employment in IMFA, and hence he has lost moral authority to continue as Member of Parliament from Kendrapara,” Agarwal said.
Panda was elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 and 2014 from Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency. Earlier, he was elected to Rajya Sabha twice from BJD in 2000 and 2006.
Kalinga AI