Resignation: Hikaka leaves it to CM

BHUBANESWAR: With the 15-day deadline given by the Maoists to Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka to resign coming to an end on May 10, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said Hikaka should not quit under pressure from ‘illegal and unconstitutional’ forces. The BJD MLA who was kidnapped by the Maoists on March 23 was released on April 26 after 33 days in captivity. “Any elected people’s representative, including Hikaka, should not resign under pressure from illegal and unconstitutional forces,” Naveen told mediapersons here on his return from a seven-day Delhi trip. Stating that the job of MLAs and MPs is to serve their constituencies, the Chief Minister said they should continue to work for the people. The tribal MLA was released by the Maoists after attending a praja court on April 23 where he was reported to have been directed to resign from his Assembly membership and snap ties with the ruling BJD within 15 days. The BJD is also against the resignation of Hikaka on the direction of the Maoists. Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, former minister Damodar Rout and BJD Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra had disapproved of such a course of action. The MLA, who is staying with his wife and two sons at the MLA hostel here under tight security, said: “I will go by the suggestions of the Chief Minister on the issue of resignation.” Hikaka, however, said there was no deadline given by the Maoists to him over the issue. The MLA told this paper that he was yet to take a decision on the issue. He said a decision will be taken after discussion with Naveen. The Chief Minister will convene a meeting where a decision will be taken, he said.