Bhubaneswar: Throwing a bombshell against BJD leadership, six-time MLA Amar Satpathy today said he is no longer with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Speaking to media persons here, Shri Satpathy said, “I am no longer with the BJD as I have not renewed my BJD membership and kept myself away from party programmes.”
The former Barchana MLA said he is now Independent and his supporters will decide his future course of action.
Shri Satpathy said he felt suffocation in the BJD as the party has deviated from its prime objective.
“We had imposed faith on our leader Naveen Patnaik, expecting him to shoulder the full responsibility. All the credit for continuous victories of the party was going to him. Now, he (Patnaik) must also accept the responsibility for its defeat,” he said.
The former BJD leader also sought clarification from Shri Patnaik whether he is now running the party or he has given the responsibility to some other person.
The party has made several mistakes including in ticket distribution in the last election, due to which, the party has suffered defeat, he said, adding, “Otherwise, there was a huge public support in favour of the BJD.”
When asked whether he is going to join the BJP, Shri Satpathy said the BJP and other political parties have contacted him during the election when the BJD denied him a ticket. “I will take the appropriate decision after holding discussion with my supporters,” he added.
Replying to Shri Satpathy, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, “If Satpathy doesn’t want to stay with the BJD, it would be better for him to leave. His nephew is already with the BJP, and if he wants to follow his nephew’s path, it would be best for him to do so.”
Dr.Mohanty also said that the party had given Satpathy multiple opportunities including making him MLA for six times, but he failed to promote new and young faces in leadership roles. He added that Shri Satpathy’s departure from the BJD would not impact the party.