Naveen seeks removal of Jay Panda from Standing Committee

ONI Bureau: Even as the Bijepur Bypoll came to an end, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is not in mood to allow suspended BJD MP Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda to hold any position on BJD’s behalf. While he is reluctant to expel him from the party, as that would help the MP to retain his Lok Sabha seat, he has now initiaited process to clip his wings.

Naveen Patnaik, who had earlier asked all BJD MPs to resign from their respective Standing Committees of the Parliament, has made a u-turn on Tuesday and decided to strip only Jay Panda of his responsibilities.

BJD’s Parliamentary Party Leader Bhartruhari Mahtab has written to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to remove MP Baijayant Panda from standing committee on Home Affairs citing his suspension from party, sought to offer that position to another BJD MP. He has also sought a separate sitting arrangement for Jay Panda, as he is barred from any involvement in BJD affairs.