BJP suspends 3 state Odisha leaders, blames BJD for defeat in urban polls

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Unit of BJP has suspended three members of the party's state executive for alleged indiscipline and indulging in anti-party activities.

Murali Manohar Sharma of Barbil, Tusarkanti Jena from Bhdrak and Ajay Das of Bolangir were suspended from the party for making anti-party statements in the media, party's chief spokesman Suresh Pujari said.

The suspended leaders have been asked to submit their replies within 10 days, he said adding that the show cause notices asked why they will not be expelled from the party.

The trio had earlier questioned the way of functioning of senior leaders and held parallel meetings without taking permission from the party, he added.

The party which held two phase meeting here to analyse the BJP's debacle in the recently concluded urban polls, however, blamed it on the flow of black money as the reason behind defeats. The party had fielded candidates in 751 wards of which only 51 candidates won the elections.