OJM strains district BJD leadership

Like at the State-level, the cold war in the Kalahandi BJD has intensified. Monday’s rally of the Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) was a pointer towards that. Many of the prominent leaders who were at the dais came from the BJD and other parties. In fact, Sunil Naik, vice-president of the district BJD has now been made general secretary of the Morcha in-charge of KBK region.

The first KBK level convention of the OJM aroused much curiosity as the rural BJD supporters were at a loss. Both the BJD and Morcha have claimed goundswell of support in their ways. The Morcha had been talking of huge crowd at the rally while the BJD tried all to ensure the rally ended in a flop show.

The rally was held at the Bhawanipatna Autonomous College field where delegates from KBK districts participated. OJM convenor Pyarimohan Mohapatra was taken to the venue in a procession from Manikeswari temple, around two km away. The meeting was chaired by former MLA Rajendra Singh.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Morcha chief spokesman Jagyenswar Babu, Millan Mohanty, Dr Sarat Mohapatra, Babi Mishra and Sunil Naik. Some of the new members who have joined the Jana Morcha were also introduced to the delegates. The new members included Prasanta Naik, former state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Rabi Patjoshi and Himansu Barad from Congress, and social activist Santosh Mund.

The district BJD had kept a close watch on the rally and no party leader was seen crossing the line. However, some of the district leaders have already joined the Morcha like Sunil Naik, who was district vice-president of the party.