Adani News

Tag: BJD

  • Odisha: Naveen Patnaik Expels Ganjam BJD Leader From Party

    Odisha: Naveen Patnaik Expels Ganjam BJD Leader From Party

    Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday expelled president of Sankhemundi block in Ganjam district, Nilamadhab Raut, for indulging in anti-party activities.

    BJD president Naveen Patnaik has ordered for his immediate expulsion from the party, an office order said.

    The regional party has been witnessing an increase in indiscipline and dissidence in the home districts of Naveen. The party is reportedly grappling with infighting in six of the 13 Assembly seats in the district. With his failing health, seven-time MLA Surjya Narayan Patro seems to be in trouble in his own constituency. BJD leader and Deputy Chairman of Chhatrapur NAC, Laxmi Padhi too has opened a front against the sitting MLA Subash Behera. The statement of Gopalpur MLA and ousted BJD leader, Pradeep Panigrahi, about ‘the need for an orange revolution in Ganjam’ also created a stir, recently.

    On June 1, the party appointed members of BJD Ganjam District Committee with veteran leader and former MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik being once again named as its president. The recent resignation of Assembly Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha, who was sworn in as new Odisha finance minister, was also seen as a tactic to reinforce BJD’s foothold in Ganjam.

  • BJP takes a dig at BJD over women empowerment, terms it as ‘women exploitation’

    BJP takes a dig at BJD over women empowerment, terms it as ‘women exploitation’

    Odisha BJP slammed the BJD dubbing the tall claims of women empowerment by the ruling party as women exploitation.

    Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, State BJP Mahila Morcha president, Smruti Patnaik targeted the ruling party for failing to give justice to the women.

    “BJD often indulges in the rhetoric of giving respect to women. However, several incidents have proved that BJD leaders are not obeying the hollow policy of women empowerment,” said Patnaik.

    “Two sensitive incidents happened in Odisha yesterday. BJD MLA Shashi Bhusan Behera has been accused of physically and mentally torturing his daughter-in-law. Another highly educated woman is also fighting for justice against the torture by family members of a former BJD Minister. Will the government give justice to them?” asked Patnaik.

    As per the senior BJP leader, a woman or a girl is getting raped in every two and a half hours in the State due to the lackadaisical attitude of the government and the inefficiency of the Home Department.

    “Odisha tops the list in terms of domestic violence against women. Odisha government submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court in this regard in 2021. The State government has utterly failed to catch the culprits and take actions against them. It has given the criminals strength to commit crimes,” said the saffron party leader.

    Patnaik also highlighted the incident involving Tirtol MLA Bijay Shankar Das.

    “As per the allegations by Sonali Das, Bijay was running sex rackets, trapping girls, and forcing them into sextortion. The BJD leader was also assaulting them in inebriated condition. Despite several pleas before the administration, Sonali has not been given justice yet. It has raised doubts among 2.5 crore women in Odisha over the silence and inaction of the BJD and the State government,” said Patnaik.

    The BJP leader also reminded that former Minister Raghunath Mohanty had to resign and landed in jail following dowry allegations by his daughter-in-law Barsha Sony in the past.

    “However, BJD is now using the term ‘women empowerment’ as propaganda only. Is Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik aware of the ordeal of these three highly educated women? Will they get justice?” asked Patnaik.

    Countering the allegation by BJP, BJD MLA Ananta Narayan Jena said that the party has always acted on any allegations by ordering investigation into it and taking immediate action.

    “Biju babu always wanted women to be self-reliant and that has been fulfilled by Naveen. Chief Minister will never tolerate any injustice and spare anybody,” said Jena.

  • BJP, BJD and Congress eyeing Adivasi and Agharia votes for Jharsuguda bypoll

    BJP, BJD and Congress eyeing Adivasi and Agharia votes for Jharsuguda bypoll

    Given the fact that tribal and Agharia voters constitute 66 percent of the total voters in the Jharsuguda Assembly constituency; none among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and the Congress can afford to ignore them.

    No wonder that they all are putting their best foot forward to woo these voters for the upcoming May 10 Jharsuguda by-election.

    The political parties are well aware that the party which will be able to garner the maximum votes from these two sections will be in a favorable position.

    Tribal voters alone constitute 48 percent of the total voters of the constituency. These voters belonging to Gond, Kisan, Khadia, Kol and Bhuyan tribes mostly live in Kirimira and Laikera blocks.

    Late leader Naba Das, during his political career, had always been enjoying the support of these voters. He used to visit the Jangha Baddeo temple to worship the presiding deity of the Gond Samaj in Laikera block.

    The national conference of Gondwana Gond Mahasabha was held in Jharsuguda on February 11. While the absence of the late leader Das was well felt, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made his presence felt. The Saffron party is trying to garner more tribal votes by including Amarendra Pratap Singh, the successor of freedom fighter Karunakar Singh Nayak.

    On the other hand, the conch party is counting on turncoat Mahendra Nayak, who switched over from Congress to the BJD, to woo the tribal voters.

    “In the Jharsuguda Assembly constituency, 48 percent of the total voters are tribal voters. And they would cast their votes for the BJD,” said BJD MP, Niranjan Bisi.

    Senior BJP leader Rabi Nayak said, “In the past, Tankadhar Tripathy (BJP’s pick for the Jharsuguda bypoll) fought for the poor, fought to get them pucca houses, fought for tribals. Because of this, they are supporting him.”

    Reasoning why the tribal voters will exercise their franchise for the Congress, senior leader Bhujabal Majhi said, “The tribal voters will vote for the Congress. They know the Congress is for the tribal people.”

    The Agharia voters constitute 18 percent of the total voters of the Jharsuguda Assembly constituency. The grand old party’s candidate Tarun Pandey belongs to this caste. So, the party is hopeful that it would garner maximum votes.

    “Since I belong to the Agharia caste, it would help me a lot,” said Pandey.

    On the other hand, the BJD and BJP have made their own strategies to woo these voters.

    “We will get votes from all the sections. They will elect our party. And the Congress party is the ‘B’ team of the Biju Janata Dal,” said BJP candidate, Tankadhar Tripathy.

    Exuding hopes, BJD candidate Dipali Das said, “It is the development that plays a vital role. People are with that party which has brought them development.”

  • BJP & Congress Fire Salvoes At BJD After It Questions Their Silence Over Mahanadi Issue

    BJP & Congress Fire Salvoes At BJD After It Questions Their Silence Over Mahanadi Issue

    Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal’s second phase visit to Chhattisgarh, the ruling BJD and Opposition BJP and Congress engaged in a verbal duel and blame game over the issue here on Friday.

    Calling out the Opposition for what it claimed their anti-Odisha stand, BJD Spokesperson Shreemayee Mishra said that the BJP and Congress are shedding crocodile tears for cheap politics instead of asking their party-run governments at the Centre and Chhattisgarh respectively to intervene in the matter.

    The regional party said that the Odisha government demanded stopping of illegal activities after it came to know about Chattisgarh constructing barrages in the upstream of the Mahanadi and forced the Centre to intervene and hold a tripartite meeting in Delhi to resolve the matter. “But a Union Minister from Odisha sided with Chhattisgarh and tried to pressurise the Odisha government to cooperate with the neighbouring state,” she said.

    The Odisha government then approached the Supreme Court after which the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 was constituted. Five years have passed since and Chhattisgarh is now ruled by Congress, which has gone silent after having raised slogans against against BJP-led government in that state over the issue. “While BJD is fighting strenuously for Mahanadi and the people of Odisha, BJP leaders in the state have also remained mum over the issue. It shows that for Odisha BJP, it is Party first and “Mati”(earth) last,” it said, adding that Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin and the Mahandi issue has exposed their intentions.

    Coming down heavily on the Odisha government, the BJP said that the Mahanadi cannot be saved by mere sloganeering. “I wonder what the government was doing for the last 23 years. Writing letters and give statements through party men would not help the case. What was the government doing when Chhattisgarh built those barrages? The water resources department was with the Chief Minister. Was the government and the CM sleeping then?” asked BJP MLA Dilip Mallick.

    He also asked if the state government had ever met Prime Minister Narendra modi and the concerned minister on this issue. “The BJD is claiming love for ‘Mati’, what have they done for the state in the last 23 years? Who is responsible for the the current state of the Mahanadi?” he further questioned.

    Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahanipati also countered the BJD and said that senior leader of his party Narasingha Mishra had requested the CM to call an all-party meeting when the issue first raised its ugly head but it was never done. “The water resources secretary had then said that Odisha would face no problem even if they built 100 barrages on the Mahanadi. The then minister had also said that barrages will be built on this side of the river but none has been built in last 22 years,” he said.

    He added that Congress has always raised its voice on the Mahanadi issue while BJD and BJP only indulged in ‘drama’.

    Notably, the Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday opened 20 gates of Kalma barrage, the last barrage on Chhattisgarh side of the river ahead of the tribunal’s visit to Kalma barrage in Chhattisgarh and command area of Hirakud reservoir in Odisha to check availability and use of water in non-monsoon season.

    There was a drop in the inflow of water and Odisha had written to to Chhattisgarh about it. With the opening of 20 gates, 1000-1500 cusecs of water had started flowing into Mahanadi in Jharsuguda district, sources said.

    While Odisha hinted at the probability that the gates were opened to mislead the tribunal, which is visiting the neighbouring state this week, Chhattisgarh rebutted the charge, insisting that the allegation was being levelled to create prejudice.

  • Tathagata Satpathy’s ‘I am independent, not in BJD’ comment sparks political debate

    Tathagata Satpathy’s ‘I am independent, not in BJD’ comment sparks political debate

    Bhubaneswar: Former Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satpathy sparked a political debate in Odisha politics after he said, ‘I am independent, not in BJD.’

    While speaking to the media persons on the occasion of the inauguration of the Sankha Bhavan, the new office building of BJD in Bhubaneswar, Satpathy said, “I am independent, not in BJD and have come here as a journalist. I came because the BJD president invited me. The Sankha Bhavan is looking great.”

    “I have no interest to contest in the 2024 elections,” he added.

    It is to be noted here that Tathagata Satpathy was a member of the 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th Lok Sabha. He represented the Dhenkanal constituency and was re-elected for the fourth time in 2014. He was also the Biju Janata Dal’s chief whip in the lower house of the Parliament. He did not contest the 2019 election and had announced not to stay away from politics and work as a journalist. Since then he was not seen in any of the programs of the State ruling party.

    However, his attendance at the inauguration of the Sankha Bhavan today has now become a subject of discussion in Odisha politics.

    Several senior politicians and BJD leaders and workers from across the State attended the inauguration of the Sankha Bhavan.

  • Big jolt to BJP ahead of Jharsuguda by-lection as Trinath Gual joins BJD

    Big jolt to BJP ahead of Jharsuguda by-lection as Trinath Gual joins BJD

    Bhubaneswar: In what can be considered as a big jolt to Odisha unit of BJP ahead of the upcoming Jharsuguda by-lection, Trinath Gual, a prominent saffron leader and president of the Jharsuguda Bar Association, officially joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) here today.

    Gual joined the State ruling party during an induction program held at the newly inaugurated BJD party office, the Shankha Bhavan, today.

    Gual joined in the presence of Debi Prasad Mishra and Sarada Prasad Nayak, the party’s observer for Jharsuguda. Brajrajnagar MLA Alaka Mohanty and MP Manas Mangaraj were also present during the joining program.

    While speaking about the reason behind joining BJD, Trinath Gual said that he joined BJD after being inspired by the Chief Minister’s ideals and public welfare work.

  • Naveen Patnaik Dedicates BJD’s New Office ‘Shankha Bhawan’ To People Of Odisha

    Naveen Patnaik Dedicates BJD’s New Office ‘Shankha Bhawan’ To People Of Odisha

    Bhubaneswar: On the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya, BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday inaugurated the office of ruling party, aptly named Sankha Bhavan, at Unit-6 area in Odisha capital.

    Sankha (conch) is BJD’s election symbol.

    Dedicating the building to its 4.5 crore denizens, the CM said that Sankha Bhawan will be a confluence point for all those striving for development of the state and protecting it dignity while building a new and empowered Odisha. “This will unite 4.5 crore people of the state. All the programmes of Shankha Bhawan will be dedicated to people of Odisha and aimed at protecting the interest of the state.”

    He further said that 1997 heralded a new era in Odisha politics with the formation of BJD by following the principles of legendary Biju Patnaik. The party, which served the people of Odisha, has now been transformed into a social movement, he added.

    Naveen said that Shankha Bhavan will not only be the centre of social, economic, cultural, and political progress, but also spiritual growth rooted in the principle of Jagannath culture. “It will continue to spread Jagannath culture across the globe while sending out the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”

    He attributed BJD’s success to consistency and peaceful disposition. “Righteousness has led to joy and peace to prosperity ,” he said, spelling out the success mantra of the party.

  • Ex-MP Tathagat attends BJD event, fueling speculation of political comeback

    Ex-MP Tathagat attends BJD event, fueling speculation of political comeback

    Bhubaneswar: Former MP Tathagata Satpathy created a flutter when he attended the inauguration of new BJD party office Sankha Bhavan in Odisha capital on Sunday.

    Scotching speculation that he might re-enter the political fray during 2024 twin elections, Tathagata said, “I attended the programme on the request of BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. I am not affiliated to any party and not willing to contest elections,” he told mediapersons.

    The four-time MP from Dhenkanal said the was happy to have received the invite but refused to answer further queries on speculation about his possible comeback.

    Tathagata quit politics ahead of 2019 elections to refocus on journalism, having allegedly fallen out of favour with Naveen. While he claimed he had been mulling over the decision for a long time and his son finally convinced him to retire, BJD insiders said he made the announcement after being denied party ticket.

    With senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan making his intentions of contesting the 2024 elections from Odisha clear, there have been rumours that BJD might go back to Tathagata if the former picked Dhenkanal considering that it is his native place.

    In 1989, Tathagata joined the Janata Dal under Biju Patnaik. He successfully contested from Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency in 1998, but lost the seat a year later to Congress’ Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo. After a brief stint with Bijoy Mohapatra’s Odisha Gana Parishad, the editor-politician then joined the BJD and was elected from the same parliamentary constituency for 3 terms in a row – 2004, 2009 and 2014.

  • BJD appoints new district observers for 30 districts in Odisha, check list

    BJD appoints new district observers for 30 districts in Odisha, check list

    Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday appointed new party observers for the 30 districts of Odisha.

    BJD general secretary Pranab Prakash Das has been made observer for four districts, including Anugul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Sambalpur.

    Likewise, senior leaders Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Dibya Shankar Mishra have been given the responsibility of two districts each while others have been assigned one district each.

    Rabindra Kumar Jena (Khurda), Amaresh Jena (Deogarh) and Debesh Acharya (Sonepur) are the new faces on the list.

    Below is the full list of BJD observers for various districts: