BJD suspends ex-MLA Prafulla Mallik over anti-party activities

Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Kamakhyanagar MLA Prafulla Mallik, who once served as a cabinet minister in the Naveen Patnaik government, has been suspended from the party on charges of anti-party activities.

The suspension was announced by BJD vice president Pratap Jena under the direction of party chief Naveen Patnaik. Mallik, regarded as one of the party’s senior-most leaders, had long distanced himself from organisational activities. On Thursday, he openly criticised the leadership, accusing it of straying from the party’s core ideals and failing to play an effective role as the opposition. “I am still in the BJD, but I am not involved in its organisational work. If the party does not function properly, I will quit,” he had said.

His suspension is expected to deepen the turbulence within the BJD, as the absence of senior figures like Mallik could weaken its organisational strength. Party leadership has not yet issued an official reaction, but the development has sparked fresh debate in Odisha’s political circles.