Keonjhar, Aug. 28: Telkoi legislator and BJD leader Bedabyasa Nayak was allegedly assaulted by supporters of a rival faction during a meeting at Gundhichaghagi in Ghatagaon block today bringing to fore the infighting within the party.

According to the MLA's representative Dasarathi Bej, 17 supporters of rural development minister Badri Narayan Patra, who represents the district, assaulted Nayak when he was addressing the meeting. Patra, however, denied the allegation.

According to insiders, Nayak was not on good terms with Patra.

Nayak suffered head injuries and was initially rushed to the Harichandanpur community health centre from where he was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

"It was a party meeting where, besides me, the rural development minister and other elected panchayat representatives, were invited," said Nayak.

"At noon, when I was called to address the meeting, the party workers jumped on the dais and started assaulting me physically. I suffered injuries to my head, left shoulder and back," the MLA said.

Some of the other party workers rushed him to the community health centre at Harichandanpur where he was provided treatment.

"His condition is stated to be stable," said medical officer of the centre Surendra Nath Singh.

"We have shifted him to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for better treatment," he said.

According to sources, the party had organised the meeting at Gundhichaghagi to chalk out the strategy for the upcoming panchayat polls. During the meeting, some workers had a heated exchange of words with Nayak, which later turned ugly.

Keonjhar district president of the BJD Asish Kumar Chakroborty, who was present at the meeting, condemned the incident.

He said action would be taken against the culprits.

"This is an unfortunate incident and we condemn it. Some of the culprits have been identified and the party will take strong action against them," the BJD district president said.