BJD Will Unseat BJP Govt, Come Back To Power: Atanu

BHUBANESWAR: Senior BJD leader and former minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has kicked up a political storm by claiming that the regional outfit will unseat the BJP government in the state and assume power with the help of Congress and others.

While addressing a public meeting at Mahakalapada in Kendrapara district on Saturday, Nayak asserted that Naveen Patnaik will again be the chief minister of Odisha. Nayak claimed that the BJD has support of Congress and Independents, he said.

“Our party has 51 members in the Assembly while Congress has 14 and there are three Independents. There will be a shortfall of only eight to 10 MLAs. A few more MLAs will be required to to stake claim to form a government in the state by toppling the BJP government,” he said.

Congress leader Mohammed Moquim rubbished Nayak’s claim. “There is no question of joining hands with BJD. Congress will grow on its own in Odisha,” he said.

Senior BJP leader and Aska MLA Saroj Padhi said, “Nayak should know that around 27 MLAs of his party are in touch with BJP. They had held a meeting two days back in Bhubaneswar. Nayak should stop daydreaming.”