Sisir Dandia

Sambalpur, Oct. 15: The suspension of local BJD leader Sisir Dandia, who was embroiled in controversy following his clash with junior doctors and medical students, from the ruling party, has triggered resentment among the party workers.

Five councillors and vice-chairman of Burla notified area council (NAC) have resigned from the the party in protest against his suspension. They alleged that the party had meted out “injustice” by suspending Dandia, who was the president of BJD’s local unit.

Dandia was the main accused in the clash with the medical students of VSS Medical College in Burla. Following the incident, students of all the three medical colleges in the state had resorted to agitation demanding his arrest. The VSS Medical College was also closed for 13 days until normalcy returned. The hospital was reopened only after the government assured that Dandia’s entry into the hospital would be prohibited. Dandia was also suspended from the party.

Vice-chairman of Burla NAC Debendra Kumar Pradhan said Dandia, who was president of the Burla unit of BJD, had been suspended from the party without any reason.

“The party should have consulted its workers before taking the decision to suspend Dandia. We have resigned from the party in protest against the injustice,” said Pradhan.

Five councillors of Burla NAC, youth and women leaders of BJD’s local unit and hundreds party workers had also resigned, he added.

However, chairperson of Burla NAC Chandrabati Nayak said only four councillors, including the vice-chairman, had resigned. “Resignation of the four councillors from the party will not affect the council,” said Nayak. “Moreover, the councillors have resigned from the party and not from the council,” she said.

President of BJD’s Sambalpur district unit Rohit Pujari said: “I have not received their resignation letters. Their resignation will not hamper the party organisation in Burla. However, we will try to bring them back to the party.”