Has Odisha Raj Bhavan Become Jharkhand Election War Room? Asks BJD

Bhubaneswar: Mounting a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday alleged that Odisha Raj Bhavan has virtually turned into a centre of political activities of the saffron party.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, senior BJD leaders Sasmit Patra and Sulata Deo stressed that the office of the Governor and Raj Bhavan are above politics.

However, the Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar has virtually become a war room of Jharkhand elections with a number of BJP leaders visiting the place in last few days, they said, adding that it is necessary to maintain the sanctity of Raj Bhavan.

The recent visits of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and veteran leader M Venkaiah Naidu to Raj Bhavan raised question marks over the purpose of their meeting with Governor Raghubar Das, they said.

Though these leaders described their visits to Raj Bhavan as personal, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi subsequently visited Jharkhand and addressed meetings at a number of places, said Deo and Patra.

It is being discussed that Odisha Governor Raghubar Das is in the race to become the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Are the BJP leaders who are meeting him personal reasons or political, asked the BJD.

The BJD leaders also targeted the BJP government over the alleged assault on an assistant section officer (ASO) by the Governor’s son and said though the incident took place months ago no action has so far been taken.

Seeking to know whether any action will be taken against the Governor’s son, they said the Chief Minister has been silent over the issue and it seems he is trying to protect the accused.