India, Jan. 16 -- Odisha's Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik on Thursday suspended assembly members Arvind Sanatan Mahakud and Arabinda Mahapatra from the party over alleged anti-party activities.

Mahakud, a two-time lawmaker and the state's richest legislator, was suspended months after Patnaik's in February last year questioned him for missing a legislature party meeting and inquired whether he came to the assembly to meet the chief minister Mohan Majhi. He criticised the previous BJD government at a public meeting in Majhi's presence.

People aware of the matter said Mahapatra's suspension was linked to his father Bijay Mahapatra's meetings with dissident BJD leaders to create a third front by breaking up the party...