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BJD asks Jay Panda to resign from Lok Sabha over office of profit, MP denies charge
The Biju Janata Dal said Baijayant Jay Panda concealed his position in a corporate house while filing affidavit during the 2014 general elections, but the Lok Sabha member said the office of profit rule applies to government positions and not private sector positions.
Two days after suspending its Kendrapara MP Baijayant Jay Panda from the party for alleged anti-party activities, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday demanded his resignation from the Lok Sabha on moral grounds, alleging that the MP concealed his position in a corporate house while filing affidavit during the 2014 general elections.
BJD vice president Bed Prakash Agrawal, who called a media briefing at the party office in Bhubaneswar, said Panda who worked as non-executive vice chairman in ferro alloys maker IMFA did not reveal the same in his affidavit filed along with his nomination papers for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“Panda has lost all his moral authority to continue as MP from Kendrapara. Hence we demand that he should immediately resign as MP from Kendrapara on ethical and moral grounds,” Agrawal said.
Reacting to the allegations, Panda said the office of profit rule applies to government positions and not private sector positions.
“I am surprised that they had not even read the rule book before calling the press conference. Regarding the false affidavit, the allegation is malicious and false. I suspect the allegation has been made to distract attention on law and order situation. They can take up the allegations with Election Commission or courts of law,” he said.
