TNI Bureau: In a big jolt to “BJD Strategist” Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, loyalists of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik got united and pledged their support to their leader.
Ironically, most of the 33 MLAs, who attended the meeting of Pyari Mohapatra on Monday night, switched sides and came out in support of Naveen Patnaik. Out of 103 BJD MLAs, 94 MLAs have rallied behind the CM and signed the letter of support to him, it is believed.
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Even 11 BJD MPs also reposed their faith in Naveen Patnaik’s leadership. It would be heartening for Naveen to see this massive support when he lands in Bhubaneswar later today after ending his foreign trip, which he undertook for the first time in 12 years.
Deputy Speaker Sanand Marandi, who was in Pyari camp till yesterday, moved to the Naveen camp today. Ministers Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Sarada Nayak, Anjali Behera and Sanjeeb Sahoo are still with Pyari Mohapatra. Other MLAs Bishnu Das, Prabhat Biswal and Bibhuti Balabantray are also with the Rajya Sabha MP, who was always regarded as the Chief Architect of BJD’s growth in Odisha.