Mahanadi Water Issue Brings BJP’s Infighting To Fore

Bhubaneswar: The Mahanadi water issue has exposed the internal wrangling within the Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The brewing infighting within the party has come to fore on Tuesday when senior party leader Bijay Mohapatra opposed the formation of the joint control board to resolve the Mahanadi water issue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments.

Holding a press conference at his house, Mohapatra said the proposed joint control board on Mahanadi water would cause a loss of Odisha’s interest.

“The proposed board on Mahanadi, if formed, will not protect Odisha’s interest rather it would cause loss. The state government should suggest to the Union Government to form a River Board,” said Mohapatra.

The stand of Mohapatra is in contrast to the statement of Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and state BJP president Basant Panda.

Pradhan had said that the state government should resolve the issue in a joint control board with the help of central government.

Ever since Basant Panda has taken the mantle of state BJP, senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra has been making statements contrary to the party’s stand. He even did not attend the executive meeting of the party recently.

Party sources said Mohapatra had been sidelined in the party for going against the leadership.