Collector’s ‘Touch Me Not, Speak Me Not, See Me Not’ Jab Sparks Political Row In Odisha [Watch]

Bhubaneswar: A fresh political storm has erupted in Odisha over Sonepur Collector Nruparaj Sahoo’s comments during a public event that were widely perceived as a veiled criticism of the previous BJD regime led by Naveen Patnaik.

Speaking at the Subhadra Shakti Mela in Sonepur in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, Sahoo highlighted a shift in governance accessibility. He referred to an earlier era when those in power maintained a distant and aloof approach, describing it as a “Touch me not, speak me not, see me not” culture. Without directly naming any individual or party, he contrasted this with the current BJP-led state government, claiming it has ended such practices and made administration more accessible to the public.

The remarks drew sharp backlash from the opposition BJD, which viewed them as an indirect attack on its 24-year rule in the state.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty took to X to condemn the Collector’s statement, questioning his impartiality as a senior administrative officer. “Has the Collector of Subarnapur, Mr Nruparaj Sahoo, joined the BJP? BJD condemns the conduct of the Collector of Subarnapur, Mr Nruparaj Sahoo, for allegedly trying to act as an agent of a political party, keeping in mind his vested interests for the future,” he wrote.

Mohanty further expressed concern over the erosion of administrative neutrality, stating that such politically tinged remarks undermine public confidence in the fairness of governance. “How can the common man expect justice from such officers?” he added, using hashtags like #SubarnapurCollectorCheapStatement and #CollectorTalkingLikePoliticalWorker to amplify his criticism.

Has the Collector of Subarnapur, Mr Nruparaj Sahoo, joined the BJP? BJD condemns the conduct of the Collector of Subarnapur, Mr Nruparaj Sahoo, for allegedly trying to act as an agent of a political party, keeping in mind his vested interests for the future.

How can the common… pic.twitter.com/qioqUukt4G

— Dr Lenin Mohanty (@DrLeninMohanty1) February 2, 2026

The incident comes at a time when the BJP government is highlighting its pro-people initiatives by holding grievance-redressal sessions every Monday.