BJD overhauls spokespersons panel

BHUBANESWAR: To effectively counter the opposition attack, the ruling BJD on Sunday overhauled its team of spokespersons by roping in some matured, aggressive and outspoken leaders in it.
Senior leaders like Prasanna Acharya, Debi Prasad Mishra (both vice presidents), Debashish Samantaray and Arun Kumar Sahoo (general secretaries) are appointed as new spokespersons of the party.Journalist turned politician Sulochana Das, who had quit Congress to join BJD recently, was also included as a spokesperson.
In a first, the party has appointed a team of spokespersons comprising 11 senior leaders and another team media panelist with equal numbers from among the young brigades to represent party in television studios.
“Over these years, the party has realized that barring a few articulate leaders, none of the existing spokespersons could defend the party aggressively due to lack of research and political maturity,” said a senior BJD leader.
Since the chief minister has continuously emphasized on tackling negative campaigns by opposition parties against BJD, the leadership also felt it necessary to include experienced and outspoken leaders in the team.
As the BJP, which is fast spreading its wings in Odisha, has an organized and systematic media team to take forward party’s agenda, the ruling dispensation is also working to streamline its media dealing. The party plans to have a well-structured media cell to track news in newspaper and television, coordinate with departments to get information to defend the government and also to decide party’s stand on various regional and national issues, said insiders.
Though the party has not designated anyone as chief spokesperson or head of the team, Rajya Sabha member Pratap Keshari Deb would virtually lead the team and oversee party affairs in national and local media.
The party has also dropped some of the leaders like Shashi Bhusan Behera, Surya Narayan Patro and Pratap Jena from the spokespersons panel after they were inducted as cabinet ministers.
Junagarh MLA Dibya Sankar Mishra and Chitrakonda MLA Dambaru Sisa were also removed as spokespersons. “While Sisa was dropped for his inactiveness, the party did not impress with Mishra’s style of defending the party in the media,” the leader said.
Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahy, who created embarrassment with her objection to the May cabinet reshuffle, would no longer be a spokesperson. She would be part of the media panelist.
Former student leader Debasish Marndi and ex-BJP candidate Santosh Amat, who joined the ruling party recently, would be part of the media panel. Byomokesh Ray, Subash Singh, Mihir Mohanty, Tejeshwar Parida, Lelin Mohanty, Chinmoy Sahoo, Rana Pratap Patra and Sulata Deo are also appointed as panelists.