**Bhubaneswar: ** While the joining of former Odisha cadre IAS officer Aparajita Sarangi on Tuesday (November 27) this week has been a bonanza for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its two senior leaders Bijoy Mohapatra and Dilip Ray quitting the party today (November 30) taking umbrage upon the high command has virtually been a double whammy to PM Modi and Amit Shah’s party unit in the State here.
Such a key political development evoked political reactions soon after on the day as ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress and even BJP had their respective versions over the happening.
Senior Congress leader and Odisha Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra commented, “A few days ago, I had advised the friends in BJP not to throw stones at others being in a glass house. They had instead thrown and their glass house had broken and today it has completely shattered to pieces. Two senior BJP leaders have resigned. BJP has undoubtedly weakened. It’s not only my version, but also Union Minister Jual Oram has recently reacted in that light. He has stated that Dilip Ray and Bijoy Mohapatra’s resignation from BJP would hamper the party’s prospect in Odisha.”
“When a ship on its sea voyage is on the verge of sinking, the mice are the first to sense the mishap. Thus, they desert the ship and escape. Today’s development is the same. BJP has started going into oblivion countrywide. Hence, senior leaders are quitting that party,” he remarked.
Senior Congress MLA Naba Kishore Das reacted, “Both Dilip Babu and Bijoy Babu are eminent leaders of Odisha. I won’t comment on the reasons and circumstances that prompted them to quit BJP. But it is a fact that Dilip Babu has always been with the masses and Bijoy Mohapatra has also often been involved in Odisha politics. Today’s development will certainly have a turning point in Odisha politics in near future as both are influential leaders. One from coastal Odisha while another from Sundargarh.”
“Also I won’t comment on their future political course of action i.e. switching over to the party of their choice. Let’s wait and watch. But, whatever party they join, the party is definitely going to gain. If they join Congress, our party will welcome them. Dilip Babu was earlier in Congress. To strengthen our party, we welcome any leader,” he remarked.
In his media reactions, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, “BJP’s senior leaders Shri Dilip Ray and Shri Bijoy Mohaptra have resigned from the party. The reasons and issues they have raised in their resignation letters are reasonable. Be it Mahanadi issue, IGH issue or second Brahmani bridge. We welcome that both have raised those issues and have prioritized on the interests of ‘mati’ (soil) not party.”
“The choice for resigning from BJP is their personal decision. Hence, there is no need of keeping any statement on it. One thing has been made loud and clear, as has been admitted by the BJP leaders themselves, that BJP Government is a ‘jumla sarkar’. They (BJP) have been telling lies. Be it Odisha’s coastal highway, other projects, special category status, development of railway or national highway. BJP Sarkar hasn’t taken right step on any of the issues,” the BJD spokesperson lambasted.
On the contrary, Odisha BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty defended, “BJP had entrusted Bijoy Mohapatra with a major responsibility considering him very close to the party. But he couldn’t deem BJP as his own party. Perhaps he lacks the habit of joining hands with others and working together.”
He added, “When Dilip Babu was the then Union Minister, UPA Government had ordered for a CBI probe into his involvement in the scam. Apart from this, both these leaders had resorted to habitually go against one’s home despite living in it. They had been pre-planning to quit BJP since long and today the exercise ended. Our lots of good wishes to them.”
**Also Read:** [After Dilip Ray, Senior BJP Leader Bijoy Mohapatra Also Quits Party](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/after-dilip-ray-senior-bjp-leader-bijoy-mohapatra-also-quits-party)
**Also Read:** [Odisha: Senior BJP Leader Dilip Ray Quits Party, Leaves For USA](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-senior-bjp-leader-dilip-ray-quits-party-leaves-for-usa)
