Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: BJD president Naveen Patnaik reprimanded party's Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud on Thursday for his absence at a legislature party meeting held the day before the start of the Odisha Budget session. The incident occurred in the Assembly building when Patnaik, walking down the corridor, encountered Mahakud and questioned him about his absence at the meeting.
The brief interaction, lasting about half a minute, was captured on video and quickly went viral. In the footage, Patnaik can be heard asking Mahakud in Hindi, “Why didn’t you attend the party meeting yesterday?” Mahakud replied, “I wasn’t feeling well.” Patnaik, not satisfied with the answer, followed up by asking, “Did you come today to see the BJP Chief Minister?” This exchange has sparked widespread speculation about Mahakud’s political allegiance, with some questioning whether he may be considering a shift to the BJP.
This concern is heightened by recent defections from the BJD, including two Rajya Sabha members and several panchayat committee leaders who have joined the BJP. However, Mahakud has firmly denied any such intentions, reiterating his loyalty to the BJD. "I was unwell when I missed the meeting. I will never move to the BJP. After winning on a BJD ticket, how could I leave? I have been with BJD and will remain with BJD. As the party leader, it’s Naveen Patnaik’s right to ask such questions,” Mahakud said.
The controversy has also been fueled by a video from December of last year, showing Mahakud interacting warmly with Chief Minister Mohan Majhi during an event in Champua. In the clip, Mahakud offers Majhi a cake, and Majhi humorously smears some on Mahakud’s cheek. Mahakud responded, explaining that as the Chief Minister of the state, Majhi is not exclusively the BJP’s CM, and it’s his right to engage with him for the district’s development.
BJD leader Sarada Jena defended Patnaik’s actions, expressing appreciation for the party leader’s vigilance over his MLAs. "We are all grateful that our party supremo is keeping an eye on us. As the party head, he has the right to ask such questions,” Jena said.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra weighed in, suggesting that BJD’s fears of defections to the BJP were justified. "BJD is nervous that their leaders will eventually switch to the BJP. They know that whenever the central leadership of BJP calls, the BJD will break apart. Let them be worried,” Mishra stated.
