BHUBANESWAR: Within 24 hours of his return from London, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cracked the whip to stamp out any trace of dissidence in the BJD by suspending his long time advisor and second power centre in the party Rajya Sabha MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra along with a couple of his MLA supporters for the failed attempt to dethrone him in his absence. Two ministers who colluded with Mohapatra were also dismissed from the ministry.Along with Mohapatra, two MLAs Prabhat Biswal and Bibhuti Balabantray were suspended from the BJD. Naveen recommended dismissal of women and child development minister Anjali Behera and minister of state for commerce and transport Sanjib Sahu from the ministry.However, minister of state for urban development and housing Sarada Nayak who visited Navin Nivas in the morning to mend fences with the chief, has been spared.Reacting to the decision, Pyari called Naveen a traitor. Describing the decision to suspend him as the worst decision, the Rajya Sabha MP said it was a betrayal. “It would have been a great relief had Naveen expelled me from the party, as it would have spared me from keeping company with such a man,” Pyari said, adding that this was the reward for building the party from scratch and winning elections during the last two times. “This man never raised a finger to build the party,” he said.Even though defeated for the time being, Pyari was belligerent by announcing that he will continue to oppose all wrong decisions. “I am still in the BJD and continue to be,” he said, adding, “I convey my thanks to him.”After meeting MPs, MLAs and senior leaders at the Navin Nivas during the day, the Chief Minister announced the decision to suspend the dissidents in the secretariat in the evening. More than 30 ministers, MPs and MLAs were present as a show of strength when Naveen announced the decision.Earlier in the day, Naveen quizzed the party leaders who had confabulated with Pyari on Tuesday.He also consulted others in the party about the action to be taken.
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