BJD-BJP alliance runs into rough weather in Sonepur

The BJD-BJP alliance has run into rough weather with BJP deciding to field its candidate against electoral partner in Sonepur assembly.

The BJD-BJP alliance in Sonepur district of Orissa has run into rough weather with the BJP deciding to field its candidate against that of the electoral partner in Sonepur assembly seat.

The strained relationship between the two parties came to the fore when Ananda Barik, the Sonepur zilla parishad president, filed his nomination papers to contest the seat which had returned BJD's Kunduru Kushal for the last three elections in 1990, 1995 and 2000.

Jugal Sahu, BJP's observer for Phulbani Lok Sabha constituency was present when Barik filed his nomination papers.

"During the last five years, BJD worked against our party and they caused obstacles in the path of BJP occupying the post of chairman in the local municipality", Sahu told PTI.

"Barik's entering the fray is the outburst of anger of party workers in Sonepur district", he added.

Kushal, however, brushed aside the development saying "let him try his luck".

Incidentally, all the three assembly seats in the district were given to BJD and BJP's pleading for at least one seat was not heeded, a local BJP leader said adding the matter was even taken before the BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu during his visit here recently.