Bhubaneswar, June 2: The egg and slipper attack on BJD MP Baijayant "Jay" Panda at Mahanga in Odisha's Kendrapara district last week is turning into a battle of nerves within the ruling party.

Panda, who is still reeling from last week's attack on him in his Lok Sabha constituency of Kendrapara, today made a tongue-in-cheek reference of chief minister Naveen Patnaik's pet phrase "law will take its own course" to underscore his demand for redressal of the perceived wrong done to him.

"Curious 2c how law takes its own course," Panda tweeted while refusing to lodge an FIR about the incident that he has said took place in public view and should automatically be taken note of by police.

Panda said the police were also informed about the possible violence during his visit to Mahanga on May 30. The attack on Panda took place while the MP was returning after inaugurating a drinking water project at Mahanga. The MP's supporters had alleged that law minister Pratap Jena's supporters were involved in the attack. Jena's supporters were peeved with Panda for not inviting their leader to the inauguration ceremony.

Panda received support from unexpected quarters. BJD vice-president and agriculture minister Damodar Rout criticised the police for not taking suo moto action in the issue. Rout said: "When the goons had hurled eggs on the motorcade of the chief minister in 2015, the police had lodged the case. The police should have initiated action in this case. Why should the media criticise the chief minister and others on the issue?"

BJD vice-president and food supplies and consumer welfare minister Surjya Nara-yan Patro wondered why Panda was not filing an FIR. "He is the victim. He is making statements in the media. What prevents him from lodging a complaint," he said.

While the BJD is divided on the issue, the Opposition today reiterated support for Panda. Congress legislature party chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati made fun of the police and said those who had hurled eggs at the MP should be identified and recruited in the police department for their perfect aiming skills.

BJP state vice-president Sameer Mohanty said: "The CM has failed to discharge his duty and has limited himself to ordering a probe into the incident. He should explain whe-ther the attack on Panda was a law and order issue or not."