Berhampur:Parallel observence of Biju babu birth jayanti in Rayagada and Ganjam by BJD groups,has widened the differences in the district BJD units and rang a warning bell for the regional party.Since last 24 years,March 5th,the birth day of legandary leader Biju patnaik,turned to be important day for the activists of BJD.Even the erstwhile BJD govt led by Naveen patnaik,observed the day by naming the day as panchayatraj diwas.However,the scenario turned different this year,as the BJD dethroned from power by BJP.The day was observed as govt function during the BJD regime with the day as statewide holiday.This year though the BJP govt observed the day,but the holiday was cancelled.Contrary to the claim of no factionalism in Ganjam district BJD unit,the birth day of legendary leader Biju babu observed parallely at Aska,one of the political conscious area of Ganjam.The BJD activists and leaders led by former MLA Manjula swain,garlanded the statue of Biju babu at Biju patnaik chowk in Aska and held a meeting,besides distributed fruits to the patients at Aska hospital.Similarly other group of leaders and activists led by Aska city BJD president Satyanarayana swain to observed the day parallely.Reacting to the observence of the day arallely,Manjula swain described the act as indisciple.She said all leaders were invited to observe the occasion unitedly,however the matter would be placed before party supremo.Satyanarayana too vented similar version and blamed the Manjula group for neglecting the party leaders and activists.Incidently,observence of the day parallely also held last year and the regional party bite the dust in the general election.Besides,due to factionalism several leaders of Aska,kabisuryanagar,Soroda,Polosara even deserted BJD and joined BJP,still the factions are remained adament and the district leaders also put a blind eye.Tussle between BJD president Dr R.C.Choupatnaik and former MLA Bikram panda was there,soon after the general election,but both the groups unitedly observed the day unitedly.However,unlike Aska,the birth day was observed separately by two groups at Rayagada.While several leaders and activists led by former minister Lalbihari himirika garlanded the Biju babu statue at Busstand in Rayagada town and held a meeting, the other faction led by Anusuya majhi too observed the day at the spot,after departure of the Himirika and others.Factionalism in Rayagada is very old,as one group led by N.Bhaskar rao and anogther led by Sudhir das.Due to the tussle,the BJD experienced the debacle in the last general election.However during the observances of Biju babu`s birth day both Bhaskar and Sudhir not participated,what raised many eyebrows.While Bhaskar reportedly not attended the occasion due to some ailment,Sudhir was not tracable,what made the party activists to ponder.
