Pranab, Sanjay avert crisis in western Odisha

Surjit Dhal, Bhubaneswar, Jan 18: Shrewd crisis managers as they are, Pranab Prakash Das and Sanjay Dasburma appear to have done their best to avert a possible crisis in BJD in Jhasuguda which was looming large with the news of possible induction of Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das into the ruling party.

A senior BJD leader Kishore Mohanty was reported to be ‘upset’ after the party decided to induct Das into its fold.

          Both Pranab and Sanjay ensured that Mohanty and Das were together at this juncture when the BJD is needed to counter the onslaught of Congress and BJP ahead of the 2019 elections, especially in western Odisha where the saffron party has made considerable inroads.

          Both Naba and Kishore attended a preparatory meeting in Sambalpur  ahead of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s visit to Jharsuguda on January 24 when Naba is likely to be inducted into the party.

          Mohanty, after the meeting, has said in clear terms that the decision of the party is always binding on him and he shall not do anything to create a crisis.

          He also admitted that he has nothing against Naba Das.

          “A guest is always income in a house,” he said on Thursday to media.

          Media reports had suggested that Kishore was against the induction of Naba as he was apprehensive about loss of his clout in the constituency.

          Though exact details of the talks among the leaders at the meeting was not known immediately, both Pranab and Sanjay are believed to have allayed the apprehensions of Kishore which has convinced him.