Suspended MLA Arvind Mohapatra over conspiracy to defeat MP candidate: BJD

Bhubaneswar: BJD on Sunday clarified the circumstances surrounding the suspension of Patkura MLA Arvind Mohapatra, attributing the disciplinary action to multiple factors, including his alleged role in a conspiracy that led to the defeat of party’s Kendrapada MP candidate Anshuman Mohanty in 2024.On Thursday, BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik suspended Mohapatra along with Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud for alleged anti-party activities. While Mahakud’s suspension was expected following his public criticism of Naveen’s development record in Keonjhar, the reasons behind the action against Mohapatra were unclear till now.Addressing media persons, BJD general secretary (youth affairs) Amaresh Patri alleged that after winning the Patkura seat on a BJD ticket, Mohapatra, in collusion with his father, Bijoy, operated a “parallel unit” in the constituency and actively worked against the party’s interests.

“They conspired to defeat the party’s parliamentary candidate in Kendrapada,” Patri told reporters.The opposition party further accused Mohapatra of deliberately avoiding the use of Naveen’s photo and BJD symbol in posters and public programmes — actions seen as direct defiance of party norms. Additional charges against Mohapatra include removing BJD workers from panchayat-level positions and replacing them with his loyalists.

Drawing parallels with his father, Patri recalled that Bijoy — once a founding member of the BJD and a close associate of former CM Biju Patnaik — was expelled by Naveen in 2000 for similar anti-party activities. Bijoy later floated the Odisha Gana Parishad and joined the NCP and BJP, but is currently unaffiliated to any political party. “Bijoy Mohapatra had backstabbed Biju babu. His son Arvind followed the same path by betraying BJD,” Patri alleged.Political observers believe BJD’s clarification carries deeper implications. “BJD is grappling with infighting and staring at a leadership crisis. The action may be linked to growing speculation about the possible formation of a new party through a split within BJD,” an analyst said.Mohapatra dismissed the allegations against him as “baseless” and motivated. “I did not engage in any anti-party activities. The accusations against me and my father are unfounded. I will seek an appointment with the BJD president to understand the charges and present my side,” he said.