Bhubaneswar, Jan 25 (IANS): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday suspended its Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda from the party's primary membership for alleged 'anti-party activities'.
Baijayant Panda denied the allegations against him.
Panda, a four-time member of Parliament, was suspended from the ruling BJD for indulging in anti-party activities, said BJD Vice-President Suryanarayan Patro.
"Panda has been directly or indirectly indulging in activities aimed at weakening the BJD, whether it was in Parliament, state, constituency, or media space -- no opportunity was missed by Panda to criticise the BJD and eulogise the opposition," a BJD release said.
It said that during panchayat elections in Odisha, he did not campaign for the party candidates even in his own constituency and instead indulged in anti-party activities to support opposition candidates.
Panda tweeted: "I'm shocked. Very very sad that Naveen Patnaik didn't see through the conspiracy against me led by an IAS officer now controlling the party. I vehemently deny the allegations. They are entirely false and baseless. I will pray to Lord Jagannath for guidance before I respond further."
Panda was earlier nominated by the BJD twice to the Rajya Sabha in 2000 and 2006. In 2009 and 2014, Panda contested Lok Sabha elections on a BJD ticket and represented Kendrapara constituency.
The party said Baijayant Panda, Vice-Chairman of the Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Limited, wanted to become Chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance in the Lok Sabha.
However, the party leadership refused to nominate him due to apprehensions of conflict of interest. After the incident, Panda has been indulging in anti-party activities, said the BJD.
Baijayant Panda was in the eye of a storm after he attacked bureaucrats in the Chief Minister's Office for "interfering" in BJD politics.
BJD leaders and workers submitted memorandums against Panda to Naveen Patnaik, who heads the party government in the state.
BJD's Kendrapara observer Pramila Mallick and Cuttack observer Usha Devi have submitted inquiry reports into allegations against the MP.