Bhubaneswar: Former agriculture minister Damodar Rout on Sunday denied claims of Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan that he was dropped from Naveen Patnaik cabinet as he had detected irregularities in the soil conservation department that had links with the Chief Minister's Office.

"His (Pradhan's) claim is absolutely false. He trying to fish in troubled waters," Rout told The Telegraph on Sunday. On December 22, Naveen dropped Rout for his remarks against Brahmins.

However, on Saturday, Pradhan said: "Dama babu had said in Rayagada that the trail of corruption in the soil conservation department went up to third floor (the CMO). That is why he had to pay such a heavy price."

Pradhan said Naveen owed a clarification on the issue to the people.

Denying the charge, Rout said: "I stopped for a couple of hours at Rayagada while returning to the state capital from Malkangiri. During my stay, I spoke to officials of my departments, but I did not review their functioning, nor did I order any probe into the so-called irregularity."

Rout asked: "Pradhan is a Union minister. How did Pradhan know about the administrative affairs of the state?"

"A minister takes an oath of secrecy and does not disclose any decision taken or any order passed, to the public," he said.

The BJP leaders had been accusing the "third floor" (the CMO) of controlling the administration and also meddling in the affairs of the party. On Sunday, Jayaram Pangi, who has joined the BJP from the BJD, said one needed to keep an official of the CMO in good humour to survive in the ruling party. He alleged that a "conspiracy" had been hatched in the CMO against Kendrapara Lok Sabha member Baijayant 'Jay' Panda.

Panda, who was asked by the BJD on Saturday to desist from commenting on party matters in social media, on Sunday tweeted: "I have no intention of leaving the party I helped found. But, it is now clear, there is a powerful conspiracy to hound me out. He was responding to a comment by one of his followers. He has thanked his followers and said: "It is uplifting to see so many citizens speaking up for the truth."

The BJD has asked two district observers - Pramila Mallick for Kendrapara and Usha Devi for Cuttack - to look into the complaints against Panda. Mallick has submitted her report and Usha Devi is expected to meet Naveen on Monday to handover her findings.