Bhubaneswar, Sept 12: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik has been suspended from the party with immediate effect for his alleged involvement in anti-party activities.

The decision was made public by BJD Vice President Pratap Jena, who cited Mallik's recent statements and actions as harmful to the party's unity and discipline. The suspension follows Mallik’s public remarks expressing dissatisfaction with the party's functioning, where he said, "If the party does not run properly, I will leave it."

Mallik, who served as a four-time MLA and former cabinet minister, had recently voiced criticism about the party's leadership and hinted at distancing himself from its affairs. His comments were perceived as a subtle challenge to the current leadership and were seen as a reflection of growing discontent within the BJD following its defeat in the 2024 Assembly elections.

In his statement, Jena described Mallik’s actions as “opportunistic” and said that they betrayed the trust placed in him by both the party and its president, Naveen Patnaik. The suspension highlights the internal rifts within the BJD, which is currently dealing with dissent and ideological divisions among its senior members.