Panda ‘welcomes’ his removal as spokesman

Sacking seen as Naveen’s message not to bring party’s internal matters in public

Even though Lok Sabha MP from Kendrapara Baijayant Panda has “welcomed” his removal as spokesperson of the Biju Janata Dal Parliamentary Party, trouble seems to be far from over in Odisha’s ruling party.

Feigning ignorance about the reasons behind his removal, Mr. Panda told a news agency on Saturday that if his removal benefits the party he would certainly welcome it. Attempts to talk to him over the phone proved futile.

Sources in the BJD said by removing Mr. Panda as the spokesperson, Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik had given out a message that he was not happy about the MP going public about party’s internal matters.

‘Attempt to provoke CM’

Political analysts are of the view that Mr Panda’s comments about his removal were an attempt to provoke Mr. Patnaik to take action against Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, who also had written articles about the party.

However, BJD sources said that no action is likely against Mr Mahtab.

Mr. Panda had been removed as the spokesperson for going beyond the party line, said Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister and party spokesperson, Surjya Narayan Patro.

Responding to queries from the media, the Chief Minister had recently asked party leaders to approach him directly if they any concerns instead of going to the media. What has disturbed the BJD leadership is that both Mr. Panda and Mr. Mahtab wrote about party’s internal problems after the panchayat elections in which the Bharatiya Janata Party did exceedingly well, replacing the Congress as the BJD’s main rival.

The exact nature of Mr. Patnaik’s approach to strengthen the party organisation will become evident after the Presidential elections in July, political analysts said.