Naveen Patnaik acts tough, sacks two ministers

Bhubaneswar, June 1(ANI): Coming down heavily on the rebels in Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha Chief Minister and party chief Naveen Patnaik went on a suspending spree on Friday, taking to task Lok Sabha MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra along with two Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), besides sacking two ministers.

The sacked ministers are Anjali Behera, Cabinet minister in charge of Women and Child Development, and Minister of Commerce and Transport Sanjiv Sahu.

The suspended MLA's are Prabath Biswal and Bibuti Balwant Rai.

Making the announcement, the Chief Minister said he has written a letter to the Governor recommending their removal.

Patnaik, returning from London after cutting short a trip, said he has taken these decisions after discussing the issue with senior leaders, ministers and MPs.

According to BJD vice president Damodar Rout, more than 25 MLAs had met Pyari Mohan Mahapatra on Tuesday, and were planning to form a breakaway government.

Patnaik held a series of meetings on Friday with BJD leaders, some of whom claimed there was an attempt to topple the government during a meeting at Mr. Mohapatra's house here.

Confirming that there was an effort to overthrow the government, Rout said, "Yes, there was an attempt to topple the government in the absence of Naveen Patnaik when he was away in Britain."

The Odisha Congress had also intimated the party high command about the new political development in the state. (ANI)