Odisha Sees Political Turmoil as Mamata Mohanta Defects to BJP

A significant protest erupted in Mayurbhanj district on Thursday, targeting Mamata Mohanta after she left the BJD to join the BJP. Led by BJD leaders, numerous Kudumi women gathered at Biju Patnaik Chhak in Rairangpur town and burned an effigy of the former Rajya Sabha MP, accusing her of betraying their community.

Community Outrage

BJD leader Ratikant Parikshya stated that his party had no involvement in the protests. "People belonging to the Kudumi community protested against Mohanta. We had no role in it," he claimed. The protest highlighted the community's anger towards Mohanta's decision.

Mamata Mohanta joined the BJP in New Delhi a day after resigning from her position as a Rajya Sabha member and quitting the Naveen Patnaik-led party. This move has sparked significant backlash from her former party members and supporters.

Accusations of Betrayal

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD leader Sarojini Hembram accused Mohanta of betraying not only the people of Mayurbhanj but also her own community. "BJD president Naveen Patnaik had sent her to Rajya Sabha to raise the voice of Kudumi people at the national level. However, she has betrayed the community by resigning from the Upper House of Parliament," she said.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged that Mohanta had been working for the BJP during the simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assembly. He claimed, "BJP has lured Mohanta to increase its tally in Rajya Sabha as it did in some other states. The BJP has to pay a heavy price for this conspiracy."

BJP's Response

State BJP leader Bisheswar Tudu dismissed claims that his party needed to lure an MP when it was already in power both at the state and central levels. "Why would the BJP hatch any conspiracy when it is in power in both places? Had it been election time, it could have been possible. But after elections, there is no point in luring anyone to join the BJP," he said.

Tudu, a former Union minister, suggested that Mohanta might have felt stifled within the BJD as its leaders lacked freedom of expression. This sentiment was echoed by BJP MLA Ashok Mohanty, who claimed that BJD leaders had lost trust in Naveen Patnaik despite his 24 years in power in Odisha.

"BJD leaders lost trust in Patnaik. He was in power in Odisha for 24 years. However, his former ministers, MPs and MLAs do not have confidence in him. This was the reason for Mohanta's resignation and joining the BJP," Ashok Mohanty added.

The controversy surrounding Mamata Mohanta's switch from BJD to BJP continues to unfold, with both parties trading accusations and justifications for her decision.