Kendrapara/Bhubaneswar, Nov. 8: Tension between BJD heavyweight and Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda and former health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak came out in the open today during chief minister Naveen Patnaik's visit to the politically-sensitive district.
Panda, who is upset with the rising popularity of Nayak and his proximity to the chief minister, today used the public meeting at Mahakalpada to swing public opinion in his favour. Some BJD workers raised slogans against the MP when he reached the meeting venue, apparently suspecting Panda's role in the resignation of Nayak, who had to step down in the wake of the Sum hospital fire in which 27 people had died.
There were reports of a scuffle between BJD activists owing allegiance to Panda and Nayak at the meeting venue and in Mahakalpada's peripheral areas. Apprehending disturbance, inspector-general (central range) Soumendra Priyadarshi rushed to Kendrapara.
Nayak's supporters apparently believe that had Panda not gone after the former minister, the Sum fire tragedy would not have become a national issue and he would not have been forced to resign.
Panda had anticipated trouble and had tweeted in this regard yesterday. He had said that though some people would try to oppose him, he would not be cowed down and attend the meeting at Mahakalpada.
While Panda was on his way to attend the public meeting at Mahakalpada, he faced stiff opposition from some BJD workers. However, the MP managed to reach Mahakalpada with police escort. Panda had to encounter slogans such as "Baijayant down-down" in the presence of chief minister, who was on the dais.
While chief minister Naveen Patnaik dwelt on the development-oriented programmes launched by his government for all sections of people, a visibly upset Panda vented out his pent-up anger.
"A section of people had threatened me not to come to Mahakalpada. But I came because people have elected me and still adore me as their representative. No force can stop me from reaching the people's doorsteps and carrying forward my developmental agenda," he told the gathering.
Panda said: "Goondaism will not be tolerated in Kendrapara district. I am throwing an open challenge to my detractors. I will visit my constituency and meet people regardless of hurdles posed by a few people."
Panda later told a news channel that he had raised the issue of Sum hospital fire because the death of 27 persons had moved him and he would continue to raise public issues.
In order to build pressure on the leadership to take action against Nayak, the supporters of Panda burnt the effigy of the former health minister at Raj Bhavan Square in Bhubaneswar.
Party's vice-president Damodar Rout, too, supported Panda. He said: "The visit of a people's representative should not be opposed. The police should act impartially in such matters." On his part, Nayak said: "I am not aware of party cadres protesting against Panda. The BJD's unity in Kendrapara district is intact. Political differences are there in every political party. However, I have no differences with the MP. I still respect him as a senior leader of the party."
He said Naveen was the only leader in the party and everyone else was a worker. "No one should claim that they have their individual supporters. All are supporters of Naveen and workers of the BJD," said Nayak.
Amidst all this, Naveen made a whirlwind tour of the district visiting Raj Nagar and Kendrapara town and launched projects worth of Rs 324 crore. In Kendrapara, some Congress workers tried to show black flags to the chief minister.
Rajnagar's Congress MLA Ansuman Mohanty was upset because he was not allowed to speak during the chief minister's meeting at Rajnagar. He said: "I have personally followed up the projects. But many foundation stones of projects were laid without proper technical sanction. This exercise is being undertaken with the panchayat elections in mind."
