BJD in New Look: Jiban Dash Suspended Just After Poll

Bhubaneswar (Reporters Today Bureau): BJD boss and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today suspended the former legislator Jiban Pradip Dash for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities. “Jiban Pradip Dash, Ex-MLA, Baleswar is hereby suspended from Biju Janata Dal for his anti-party activities with immediate effect,” stated an official notification issued by BJD’s General Secretary (Media Affairs), Manas Ranjan Mangaraj.

However, Jiban feigned ignorance and said he has no idea about the reason behind the decision taken against him. The three-time legislator was included in the list of star campaigners of the Biju Janata Dal for the by-polls in Baleswar Sadar and Tirtol assembly constituencies that concluded on November 3.

Jiban was one of the aspirants for the party ticket to contest the by-polls from Baleswar Sadar assembly seat. However, the party fielded Swarup Kumar Das as its candidate. The two-time former MLA had represented Baleswar Assembly Constituency. He had won the 2009 and 2014 Assembly elections on the BJD ticket. Jiban had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 assembly election from Baleswar Sadar seat against BJP’s Madan Mohan Dutta.