BJP Can Do Horse-Trading but Can Not Do Leader Trading: BJD

Bhubaneswar: Hours after Mamata Mohanta joined the BJP, the Biju Janata Dal has lashed out at the former Rajya Sabha member and the saffron party.

BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo has accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading.

Talking to a national news agency, the BJD MP said that the BJP can do horse-trading but it cannot do leader trading.

“All MPs are not ‘bikau’. Now, no MP will go. You (BJP) can do horse-trading but you can’t do leader trading. We will continue to fight for Naveen Patnaik and BJD until the end”, she told the news agency ANI.

Mohanta has resigned as Rajya Sabha MP because of her vested personal interested. The reasons she gave in her resignation letter is highly condemnable. She has betrayed the Kudumi community and the people of Mayurbhanj district, the BJD said.

Addressing a press conference, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said that Mamata Mohanta was allured to join the saffron party.

BJD President Naveen Patnaik has sent her to Rajya Sabha focusing on woman empowerment. The people of Kudumi community have always expressed their gratitude to Naveen Patnaik. Mohanta could have resigned from the BJD if she has not got the opportunity to work for the development of her community, but she has resigned from the Rajya Sabha after being allured by the BJP, the BJD spokesperson said.

Prior to general and assembly elections, Mamata Mohanta had inclination towards the BJP. It was her choice to be part of which political party. Finally, she joined the BJP. However, there will be no impact on the BJD without her presence, Mohanty said.

The BJD will remain strong in future as it has been under the leadership Naveen Patnaik, he added.

Senior BJD leader and ex-minister Sarojini Hembram has alleged that Mamata resigned from the party for her own vested interests.