Dharmendra Pradhan was reason for quitting BJP: Kharabela Swain

Bhubaneswar: Former BJP MP and Utkal Bharat president Kharabela Swain on Saturday said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was one of the reasons behind his departure from the saffron party.

As Pradhan criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for egg attack on BJD’s Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda in Mahanga, Kharabela reminded him of the past.

“Dear Pradhan, don’t try to be a moral preacher. Who knows you better than me. When I refused to give ticket to an ineligible candidate of your choice in 2009, you had sent your goons to ransack my house, who damaged properties worth Rs 1.5 lakh and had to spend 7 days in jail. But, you embraced them and even clicked photos with them in public. You are still patronising them in Balasore,” alleged Kharabela Swain.

“You were one of the reasons why I left the BJP. When you were involved in such acts to carry out attacks on political adversaries within your party, who gives you right to raise questions on other leaders for a similar act?” asked Swain.