Bhubaneswar: Health condition of BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik has been a hot topic of discussion for quite some time.
After remaining Chief Minister for five consecutive terms, Naveen is now leading the opposition for the first time in the state. He visited the Assembly building during the brief three-day special session for oath-taking of new MLAs and election of Speaker.
After observing Naveen in the Assembly, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that the former Chief Minister appears to be fully fit physically and mentally.
Stating that he was following Naveen and keenly watching his movement, the Jeypore legislator said the BJD chief was walking perfectly with complete balance without any support or assistance by anybody. The ex-CM was putting his steps properly without any sign of his arms or legs shaking, he said.
“I wonder as to why his (Naveen’s) arms were often found shaking in the past. Very often he was seen facing difficulty in properly putting his steps. Now he is absolutely fit,” said Bahinipati.
To a query, the Congress leader said, “I think it was being done deliberately .. a drama, but now it is over, a thing of the past.”
No senior leader of BJD was immediately available for comment on the Congress leader’s remark on Naveen.
