Suspension of Arvind Mohapatra Triggers Protest Outside BJD Office
Bhubaneswar, Jan 23: The suspension of Patkura MLA Arvind Mohapatra from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has triggered a wave of protests outside the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar, exposing deep fissures within the ruling party.
Mohapatra was suspended by BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on charges of alleged anti-party activities.
Party leaders accused him and his father, veteran politician Bijay Mohapatra, of running a parallel unit in Patkura, conspiring against Kendrapara MP candidate Anshuman Mohanty during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, misusing party symbols, sidelining grassroots workers, and engaging in corrupt practices.
Rejecting the allegations, Mohapatra termed the suspension “politically motivated” and challenged Naveen Patnaik to an open debate.
He alleged a conspiracy behind the move and vowed to continue his fight both within and outside the party.
Meanwhile, hundreds of his supporters gathered at the BJD office, raising slogans against the leadership.
The protest prompted police to tighten security around Naveen Niwas, the Chief Minister’s residence, with additional personnel and home guards deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
The episode has sparked fresh debate over internal discipline in the BJD, with dissenting voices becoming increasingly visible.
Political observers believe the suspension could have wider implications for the party’s organizational strength in Kendrapara and beyond.
