BJD president Naveen Patnaik, on Wednesday, stood by his party’s decision to suspend first-time MLA Arvind Mohapatra, claiming the legislator obstructed development in the Patkura constituency in Kendrapara district and caused significant distress to local residents.
Patnaik held a meeting with party workers from the Patkura assembly segment, the seat currently represented by Mohapatra, to discuss the situation.
The regional party recently suspended both Mohapatra and Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud on charges of anti-party activities, with the political party publicly branding the duo as “corrupt traitors.”
Reflecting on his decision to field Mohapatra, Patnaik noted that while he had granted him the opportunity to serve the people of Patkura constituency, instead, the “MLA hindered development works and went against our interests, causing distress to the residents.”
ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳ ସର୍ବଦା ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସେବାରେ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରେ। ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱାର୍ଥ ପାଇଁ ବିଜେଡି ସବୁବେଳେ କଠୋର ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଛି।
ପାଟକୁରା ନିର୍ବାଚନମଣ୍ଡଳୀରୁ ଆସିଥିବା ବିଜେଡିର କର୍ମୀ ତଥା ନେତୃବୃନ୍ଦଙ୍କ ସହ ଏନେଇ ଆଲୋଚନା କଲି। ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସହ ରହି ଦୃଢ଼ତାର ସହ ଆଗକୁ ବଢ଼ିବାକୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦେଲି। #BJDWithOdisha pic.twitter.com/6phbGFuWuu
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 21, 2026
He underscored the BJD’s zero tolerance towards indiscipline and betrayal.
However, Mohapatra’s supporters in Kendrapada district have appealed to the BJD president to reconsider the suspension.
The suspended legislator, meanwhile, has denied all charges, demanding that the party provide specific evidence of his alleged misconduct rather than relying on “false and baseless” statements from BJD leadership.
In addition to this, the party accused Mohapatra of conspiring to sabotage the BJD’s Kendrapada MP candidate during the 2024 elections by operating a “parallel unit” alongside his father, former minister Bijoy Mohapatra.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the decision to suspend two MLAs from the party was taken after months of careful consideration and feedback from grassroots workers.
