To take on Naveen,Pyari floats new outfit

Four months after he was suspended from the Biju Janata Dal for leading a revolt against Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik,Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra on Sunday announced the formation of a political outfit named Orissa Jana Morcha.

Talking to The Indian Express,Mohapatra,73,said the first aim of the outfit would be to restore democracy and bring accountability in BJD. The party would take anyone who believes in the dreams of Biju Patnaik. The outfit would be under my leadership, he said. Over last few weeks,Mohapatra has been indicating the formation of such a front against BJD.

Mohapatra,once considered the Chief Ministers mentor,said the outfit would hold a rally in Bhubaneswar between October 26 and October 30 to show its strength. BJD minister Kalpataru Das,however,said the new outfit wont affect the fortunes of BJD.

In the past four months after the coup,Naveen has taken action against 38 leaders,including eight ministers considered close to Mohapatras group,who allegedly made the coup bid.