Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik suspended the high flying MP Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda from the primary membership of the party on Wednesday.

The BJD release announcing the suspension not only slapped anti-party activities against Panda but also referred to his business interests and lobbying.

Panda, who is also the vice chairman of IMFA company, was desirous of becoming the chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance in the Lok Sabha after the 2014 elections. He had stated that the BJD being the fourth largest party in Parliament may not be favoured with chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Finance but went on to state that if he is nominated, he would be able to lobby and get it.

As vice chairman of IMFA Panda has drawn annual salaary and allowances of Rs 1.45 crore in 2014 and there has been a huge loan waiver which is still a matter of debate . IMFA is into mining, ferro alloys and power in Odisha. Apprehending serious conflict of interest, which would have compromised the interests of the state and the country, the party leadership refused to nominate him for the chairmanship of the standing committee, said the BJD release.

After this, Panda has been directly and indirectly indulging in activities aimed at weakening BJD, whether it is the Parliament, state, constituency or media space, the release said, adding that he missed no opportunity to criticise BJD and eulogise the opposition. His claims of being a founder member of the BJD are totally false, it said.

Panda’s conduct during the PRI elections in which he did not campaign for the party candidates even in his own constituency and instead indulged in anti-party activities supporting Opposition candidates was totally against the interests of the BJD and its functionaries who have been responsible for sending him to the Parliament four times, said the release.

Panda tweeted that he was shocked and that it was sad that Naveen Patnaik did not see through the conspiracy against him led by an IAS officer who is now controlling the party.

Panda also denied the allegations levelled against him as false and baseless.