Pyari Mohan backs off: Naveen safe

Barely 24 hours after he triggered speculation of a coup in the ruling BJD,party Rajya Sabha MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra denied any rebellion against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik but said that all was not well in the party and government

Barely 24 hours after he triggered speculation of a coup in the ruling BJD,party Rajya Sabha MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra on Wednesday denied any rebellion against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik but said that all was not well in the party and government.

On Tuesday evening,30 MLAs,including three ministers,met Mohapatra at his residence,fuelling speculation that he was out to split BJD while Naveen was away in UK. Mohapatra,Naveens advisor not so long ago,has fallen out with the CM for the past three-four months over several matters,including candidates for Rajya Sabha polls.

After the meeting,there was talk that Mohapatra would meet the Governor with signatures of 55-60 MLAs and stake claim to form government. But,BJD sources said,the plan went awry when 10 MLAs in his camp backed off.

On Wednesday,Mohapatra said,There is absolutely no threat to Naveen Patnaik from me. He is safe as CM8230;. He called me last night and enquired about the meeting. I told him I called meeting of 4-5 MLAs in batches. We discussed organisation problems and issues like price rise.

Had I wanted to become CM I could have tried long ago8230;. I could have tried in 2009 also.

Late Tuesday,Naveen issued a statement in London saying,I understand that in my absence,an MP of my party is stirring trouble against my state government8230;. This is deplorable.

Mohapatra said some leaders misled the CM on the meeting. But he made it clear that he was unhappy. He said for now there is no threat to BJD,but who knows about what the future holds out? The party is not being properly looked after. The government is losing control due to arrogance of bureaucrats, he said,adding that no action was taken despite his reminders.

Threat to my life

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Pyari Mohan Mohapatra alleged that a gangster has been hired by one of his party MLAs to kill him. A Kolkata-based gangster Sunil Dutta has been engaged by an MLA of our party. I will not disclose the name of the MLA. I will tell everything to the Chief Minister, he said,adding that he has informed the police.

ENS