Bhubaneswar, April 11 -- Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Prafulla Mallik today responded sharply to party president Naveen Patnaik's recent remarks disapproving of party leaders holding meetings in hotels.

Patnaik had earlier expressed displeasure over such gatherings, emphasizing that party members should use the official party headquarters, Sankha Bhawan, for meetings. "I disapprove of meetings in hotels held by party members. They have the party office 'Sankha Bhawan', which is a large building where they have been told they should hold their meetings and they should do so," Patnaik had said.

Reacting strongly to Patnaik's statement, Mallik said there was nothing wrong with informal discussions taking place outside the party offi...