Branding party MP Harihar Swain as "betrayer" for voting in favour of the UPA government in the trust vote, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) asked the people of Orissa's Ganjam district to socially ostracise him."Swain has not only betrayed the party but also lakhs of people in Ganjam district who voted him to the Lower House on BJD's symbol," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said."The Aska MP had hurt 'swabhiman' of Ganjam as well as of Orissa," Patnaik said adding that he deceived the people who elected him to Parliament with high expectations.Confirming that Swain had been "summarily expelled" from the party for violating whip, BJD General Secretary Narendra Swain said that the Aska MP was a "betrayer" and the party would not give Swain a chance to explain his stand."We are also writing a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker to disqualify Swain as a member of the House," he said. Harihar Swain, a former Congress minister, who joined BJD before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, was fieled from Aska constituency in Ganjam district which was earlier represented by party president Naveen Patnaik as well as his father, the legendary Biju Patnaik.Party leaders said Swain not only failed as an MP but also lowered BJD's image. Describing Swain's role as "dubious", BJD MP from Jajpur Mohan Jena said that the Aska MP attended all meetings held before the trust vote without giving room for suspicion. "The Aska MP had been a victim of horse trading," Jena claimed. Sources said Swain was asked to make a correction by Arjun Sethi, the party's leader in Lok Sabha, and other MPs when he was found voting in favour of the UPA government through the electronic voting gadget."Swain refused to correct the voting and argued that he had done no mistake by voting in favour of the UPA government," a senior MP who persuaded Swain to correct his vote by writing to the Speaker, claimed.When contacted Swain said that he voted according to his "inner voice and conscience". The Aska MP said over phone that he had every reason to defy BJD's whip but did not elaborate. Meanwhile, BJD activists and leaders in Ganjam district are preparing to stage a protest against Swain as soon as he arrives in Bhubaneshwar.
