He is the supreme leader of BJD."
Das himself lost the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat to Union Minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan by a margin of over 1 lakh votes.
Das said Patnaik told the visiting leaders that they had nothing to regret as the state had changed during the BJD's 24-year rule.
Das quoted Patnaik as saying that the party has served the people while in government and will continue to do so in opposition.
On the possible reason for the party's defeat in the elections, Das said, "A committee has been formed and it will find out the reason.,
Patnaik's close aide VK Pandian, who had been present at all the meetings for some time, was conspicuous by his absence.
Asked about the reason for Pandian's absence from the meeting, Das said, "Everything in BJD happens as per the instructions of the president. It is his (Patnaik) prerogative to decide who will be present at the meeting."
However, party spokesperson Sasmit Patra said that Pandian is on the Delhi tour as per Patnaik's instructions.
Patra claimed that a section of the media had issued "baseless and misleading" reports about the reasons for Pandian's absence from Odisha, when in fact he was in the national capital.BJP has come to power by winning 78 out of 147 assembly seats in Odisha, while BJD could win only 51 seats. Congress got 14 seats and CPI(M) one seat. Three independent candidates also won.
Das himself lost the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat to Union Minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan by a margin of over 1 lakh votes.
Das said Patnaik told the visiting leaders that they had nothing to regret as the state had changed during the BJD's 24-year rule.
Das quoted Patnaik as saying that the party has served the people while in government and will continue to do so in opposition.
On the possible reason for the party's defeat in the elections, Das said, "A committee has been formed and it will find out the reason.,
Patnaik's close aide VK Pandian, who had been present at all the meetings for some time, was conspicuous by his absence.
Asked about the reason for Pandian's absence from the meeting, Das said, "Everything in BJD happens as per the instructions of the president. It is his (Patnaik) prerogative to decide who will be present at the meeting."
However, party spokesperson Sasmit Patra said that Pandian is on the Delhi tour as per Patnaik's instructions.
Patra claimed that a section of the media had issued "baseless and misleading" reports about the reasons for Pandian's absence from Odisha, when in fact he was in the national capital.BJP has come to power by winning 78 out of 147 assembly seats in Odisha, while BJD could win only 51 seats. Congress got 14 seats and CPI(M) one seat. Three independent candidates also won.
