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Sethi still BJD parliamentary
party leader: Naveen Patnaik

Orissa Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said Union Water Resources Minister Arjun Charan Sethi continues to be the leader of the BJD Parliamentary Party.

He said this after a group of BJD MPs, who split from the party on Tuesday to form a separate group, appointed member of Parliament Prasanna Acharya in Sethi's place.

"I don't know what prompted the BJD MPs to make such an announcement when the state is facing a severe drought," Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

"I am trying to contact them and only after holding discussions with them will the party take appropriate steps," he said, adding that the move to form a separate party by a few BJD MPs would not affect his popularity in the state.

The ten-member parliamentary party of the BJD, a constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, was split on Tuesday night when three MPs -- Prasanna Acharya, Prasanna Patsani and Bhartwahari Mohatab -- joined three suspended MPs of the BJD -- Jagannath Mallik, Kumudini Patnaik and Prabhat Samonta Ray.

"We took the decision so that we can perform better in Parliament. This is in the interest of the party," Acharya told rediff.com.

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