Bhubaneswar, May 28, 2018: With “deep anguish, hurt andsorrow”, high profile Kendrapara Lok Sabha member Baijayant Panda on Monday
resigned from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). He sent his resignation letter
to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He will separately write to
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to resign from the Lok Sabha formally soon.
Although things have been going from bad to worse for the
past years in the party for the parliamentarian, Panda resigned from the
regional party after not a single leader of the BJD, including the CM visited
him to console him after the death of his industrialist father Bansshidhar
Panda on May 22.
past years in the party for the parliamentarian, Panda resigned from the
regional party after not a single leader of the BJD, including the CM visited
him to console him after the death of his industrialist father Bansshidhar
Panda on May 22.
“Although things have been going from bad to worse for the
past years, it has plumbed the absolute depths of inhumanity when neither you
nor anyone from the BJD turned up to pay their respects to my father Dr
Banshidhar Panda, who as everyone knows was a very close friend, supporter and
associate of Biju uncle for many decades. In stark contrast, thousands of well
wishers came to pay last respects, including senior leaders of all other political
parties,” Panda wrote in his three-page resignation letter.
past years, it has plumbed the absolute depths of inhumanity when neither you
nor anyone from the BJD turned up to pay their respects to my father Dr
Banshidhar Panda, who as everyone knows was a very close friend, supporter and
associate of Biju uncle for many decades. In stark contrast, thousands of well
wishers came to pay last respects, including senior leaders of all other political
parties,” Panda wrote in his three-page resignation letter.
Panda further wrote, “I have been viciously targeted,
including being physically assaulted with stones, bricks and eggs last May in
Mahanga. I was extremely saddened that even then you (CM Naveen Patnaik) did
not bother to call to inquire about my health and safety.”
including being physically assaulted with stones, bricks and eggs last May in
Mahanga. I was extremely saddened that even then you (CM Naveen Patnaik) did
not bother to call to inquire about my health and safety.”
“With the BJD and you yourself having made it abundantly
clear that I am unwanted it is only right for me to dissociate from it. Separately,
I will be conveying my decision formally to Lok Sabha Speaker to accept my
resignation from that August institution upon completion of my religious
obligations of bereavement,” said Panda.
clear that I am unwanted it is only right for me to dissociate from it. Separately,
I will be conveying my decision formally to Lok Sabha Speaker to accept my
resignation from that August institution upon completion of my religious
obligations of bereavement,” said Panda.
On January 24, Naveen Patnaik suspended Panda from the party
for his alleged anti-party activities. On January 26, the party had asked Panda
to resign from the Lok Sabha on moral and ethical grounds.
for his alleged anti-party activities. On January 26, the party had asked Panda
to resign from the Lok Sabha on moral and ethical grounds.
Panda was elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 and 2014 and had been
a Rajya Sabha member from 2000 to 2009.
a Rajya Sabha member from 2000 to 2009.
Panda had been sidelined by the party leadership for last
few years for questioning the role of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s personal secretary
VK Pandian in party affairs.
few years for questioning the role of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s personal secretary
VK Pandian in party affairs.
