Bhubaneswar, July 2: Amid mounting pressure from the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association demanding his arrest, BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan met State BJP President Manmohan Samal at the party office in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday evening.
The meeting, termed a “family discussion” by Pradhan, was attended by senior party functionaries. While both leaders remained tight-lipped on the discussions, Pradhan is learnt to have presented his side before the party’s disciplinary committee.
The development follows the OAS Association’s strong protest over the alleged assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, allegedly by Pradhan. The Association has demanded his immediate arrest, enhanced protection for field officers, and a public condemnation of the attack.
Speculation about major action swirled as large police forces were deployed outside the party office, with Pradhan's supporters gathering in significant numbers.
In a social media post ahead of the meeting, Pradhan said he would cooperate with any legal process and alleged that the incident was being politicised by opposition parties.
Manmohan Samal, addressing the media briefly, said the government is fully aware of the matter and would respond appropriately. He reiterated that internal party matters would remain confidential.
