In Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has asked its suspended Lok Sabha MP, Baijayant Panda, to resign from the membership of the Lok Sabha on a moral basis. The BJD had suspended Panda MP from Kendrapara on charges of anti-party activities on 24th January.

The party has also accused Panda that he had submitted a false affidavit before the Election Commission during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. However, Panda has denied this charge. BJD’s vice president and party MLA Ved Prakash Agrawal said in a press conference, Panda hid that he is working as an IMFA employee and is taking crores of rupees as salary. Why did he hide this fact? Agarwal said that in the affidavit filed on March 21, 2014 in connection with the Lok Sabha elections, he hid this point in the affidavit

However, Panda told reporters, the charge against me is totally false and baseless. Panda was elected to Lok Sabha in the year 2009 and 2014, while Rajya Sabha member from 2000 to 2009.