BJD expels top leader for six years

By N. Ramdas

BHUBANESWAR, FEB. 3. In a major political development in Orissa, the Biju Janata Dal president and Union Mines Minister, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, today expelled the chairman of the political affairs committee of his party, Mr. Bijoy Mahaptra, for` anti- party activities' for six years.

With the elections to the Orissa Assembly slated for February 17 and 22, the expulsion of Mr. Mahapatra will in all probability trigger chain reactions affecting the electoral fortunes of the BJD in the undivided Cuttack and Puri districts.

In a surprise development, Mr.Atanu Sabyasachi a journalist with a local daily, landed at the district headquarter, Kendrapara this afternoon and filed his nominations for the Patkura seat as the BJD candidate.

Mr. Mahapatra had filed his papers as the BJD candidate for this seat on Wednesday. Mr. Sabyasachi filed his papers at 2.58 p.m., leaving no scope for Mr.Mahapatra to take any other step.

Today was the last date for filing nominations for the second phase.

Reacting to the decision, Mr. Mahapatra said it was nothing but ``back-stabbing'' and the BJD did not mean Mr. Patnaik alone.

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