OJM rally: Nervous BJD sends out stern message

With only two days left for the Bhawanipatna rally of the Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM), floated by Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra, all attention is now focused on it as the BJD is making all-out efforts to foil it.

The BJD convened a workers’ conference at Bhawanipatna on Saturday where senior party leaders warned that indiscipline would not be tolerated. The State Executive of the party which met here on Friday had also emphasised on maintaining discipline in the party.

The conference of the BJD ahead of the Morcha rally assumed significance after the expulsion of OJM chairman Pyarimohan and his aide Jagneswar Babu. The conference was attended by Berhampur MP Siddhanta Mohapatra, Minister of State for School and Mass Education Rabi Narayan Nanda, Energy Minister Arun Sahu, Biju Yuva Janata Dal president Sanjay Dasburma and former minister Puspendra Singhdeo, among others. The Kalahandi BJD district unit has also opposed the OJM rally alleging that the Morcha leaders are trying to create confusion among the workers.

Several speakers in the State Executive asserted that there cannot be two power centres in the party. “Naveen Patnaik is the only leader in the BJD,” they said.

Criticising the BJD for mobilising workers ahead of the Morcha rally, OJM chief spokesman Jagneswar alleged that all-out efforts are being made in every panchayat to scuttle the rally. He, however, said the OJM is alert and will foil all their attempts.

Expecting a large turnout, Jagneswar alleged that BJD does not have a strong organisation in the district. “The panic reaction to the rally from the BJD leaders points to our success in persuading the party workers to rally around the OJM,” he said.

After the Bhawanipatna rally, the Morcha is planning two more rallies at Berhampur and Balasore.