BJP's growing popularity in Odisha rattles BJD?

Bhubaneswar: It seems the growing popularity of BJP in Odisha is making ruling BJD truly nervous!

BJP had performed really well in the recently concluded Panchayat and Zilla Parishad elections.

Now, ahead of the BJP's National Executive meeting in Odisha, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Tathagata Satpathy on Monday claimed that the BJP is trying to split the party ruling the state.

However, reacting to the accusation, petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from the state, said, “If the government in Odisha is in sync with that in Centre, there will be faster development of the state. Our party is strengthening its base in Odisha.", according to a report in The Economic Times.

"If a political rival is scared, I can’t help it," Dharmedra Pradhan added.

Noteworthy, BJP emerged as the principal opposition party in Odisha politics with impressive gains in the panchayat elections in the state.

Satpathy said rumours were rife that one BJD MP is helping the Bharatiya Janata Party to create a rift in the ruling party, triggering a response from another BJD MP.

"BJP hard at work to divide @bjd_odishaA in Parliament, maybe even in assembly. They want AIADMK type split," tweeted Satpathy.

"They want to take away @bjd_odisha's party name & symbol. Rumours afloat that only one MP will swing this deal for them. Ha!," wrote the BJD MP.

His post claimed that the BJP was trying to push for early elections in Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

"If split happens, no matter how small, BJP will try for early elections in Odisha with Raj (Rajasthan), Guj(Gujarat), MP (Madhya Pradesh). Will EC play along?"

Tathagata also tweeted: "Odisha assembly election scheduled in 2019 along with Lok Sabha. Orissa may not be considered cowbelt."

BJP hard at work to divide @bjd_odisha in Parliament, maybe even in assembly. They want AIADMK type split.
- TS
1/1 — Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017

They want to take away @bjd_odisha's party name & symbol. Rumors afloat that only one MP will swing this deal for them. Ha!
- TS
2/1 — Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017

If split happens, no matter how small, BJP will try for early elections in Orissa with Raj, Guj, MP.
Will EC play along?
- TS
3/1 — Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017

BJP National Convention scheduled on 15-16 April in Orissa. PM to attend. Intention to put pressure to make state govt defunct.
- TS
4/1 — Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017

Orissa assembly election scheduled in 2019 along with Lok Sabha. Orissa may not be considered cowbelt.
-TS
5/1 — Office of T Satpathy (@SatpathyLive) March 27, 2017

The BJD lawmaker said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in the BJP National Executive meeting on April 15 and 16 at Bhubaneswar was a bid to put pressure to make the state government defunct.

While Satpathy did not name the MP who would join the BJP, his party MP Baijayant Panda joined the Twitter war.

Panda tweeted: "He speaks w expertise, once suspended from BJD, joined another party."

Satpathy was suspended from the BJD in 2000 on the charge of anti-party activities. He then joined the Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP) but later returned to the BJD before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

BJD spokesperson Pratap Dev said Satpathy's remarks were personal and the party has nothing to do with them.

He, however, said whoever has tried to betray the party, (s)he has been punished.

Assembly elections in Odisha take place simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections and are due only in 2019.