Senior leader and former Odisha Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai has been expelled from the ruling BJD by party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for anti-party activities.

Sources said that the party president took the drastic step in response to demand from the rank and file of the BJD from across the state.

The expulsion of Ghadai, who had been denied BJD ticket in the last elections, came in the wake of certain adverse remarks about Naveen attributed to him appeared in an Odia daily.

AIR correspondent reports, the expulsion of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) vice-president and senior leader Prafulla Chandra Ghadei from the party was expected from Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik.

Ghadei had personally attacked Naveen Patnaik. He also went on to say that Naveen Patnaik always depends on others for every work.
The axe fell on Ghadei after the interview he gave to an Odia daily was published.

The opposition BJP and Congress have criticised the BJD for being an undemocratic political party while senior BJD leaders have welcomed the decision of party president Naveen Patnaik.