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Mohapatra launches a new political forum

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

Expelled Biju Janata Dal leader and former Union minister Bijoy Mohapatra, who is likely to be questioned by the vigilance department in connection with a corruption charge in a few days, launched a new political forum in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Though Mohapatra has not registered his Orissa Gana Parishad under the Peoples Representation Act, it's quite clear that the OGP will primarily be an anti-Naveen Patnaik plank.

Mohapatra, who addressed a press conference shortly after launching the forum, said the OGP would work for the people of Orissa.

Mohapatra claimed his forum would oppose the anti-Orissa policies of the state government and the Centre. He alleged the BJD had failed to deliver goods due to its "inefficient, inexperienced leadership."

Mohapatra, who was expelled from the BJD for having links with Congress leader J B Patnaik, did not utter a single word against the former chief minister.

He said he was in touch with a number of MLAs and ministers belonging to the BJD and the Bharatiya Janata Party. "You have to wait patiently for some time," Mohapatra said when asked to name these ministers.

Former BJD MP and a known Naveen critic Tathagat Satpathy, Janata Dal (United) state unit president Narashingha Mishra, BJP leader Shanti Das and Congress leader Rudramadhab Ray were present at the press conference.

An OGP release said the forum would hold its first state-level convention in Bhubaneswar on October 29.

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