Breaking News! Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who foiled a coup bid while sitting in London, has finally cracked the whip by suspending his friend-turned-foe Pyari Mohan Mohapatra from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

 

Pyari Mohan Mohapatra has ruled the BJD by proxy for around 9-10 years. He was seen as the strategist of the party and enjoyed the support of many leaders and cadres. However, after being sidelined by Naveen on several issues in the last few months, he attempted a coup by trying to muster the support of BJD MLAs in Naveen Patnaik's absence.

 

Although the coup was foiled by Naveen loyalists while the Chief Minister handled the crisis from abroad, Pyaru later denied the coup speculations and said he never tried to split the BJD.

 

After returning from London yesterday, Naveen met party MLAs and others leaders throughout the day and took the drastic action. Along with Rajya Sabha MP Pyari Mohan, MLAs Prabhat Biswal and Bibhuti Balabantray were also suspended from the party.

 

Naveen also wrote to the Governor, recommending the dismissal of Ministers Anjali Behera and Sanjeeb Sahoo from the Cabinet. The latest development is seen as the biggest-ever step in Odisha politics in the recent history.