The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday said the induction of former party MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would have no bearing on its organisational strength, while accusing the saffron party of compromising its moral stand by admitting a leader facing trial in the Seashore chit fund scam.
BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty said Biswal’s switch to the BJP would have “no impact whatsoever” on the regional party.
Mohanty said the BJD had denied Biswal an election ticket after he was named as an accused in the chit fund case and had later expelled him from the party for alleged indiscipline. “He has now joined the BJP. His exit will not affect the BJD in any manner,” he said.
Mohanty further alleged that ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections, the BJP had promised to refund the money of chit fund depositors within 18 months of assuming office. “Instead of fulfilling that promise, the BJP has inducted a chit fund scam accused into its own ranks,” he said.
He added that the move was an affront to the lakhs of chit fund investors who were allegedly duped and reflected the BJP’s “double standards” on corruption and accountability.