Bhubaneswar: After BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s ‘betrayal’ jibe, women leaders of the party on Wednesday accused BJP nominee Jay Dholakia, who switched sides within weeks of his father and sitting Nuapada MLA Rajendra Dholakia’s death, of “selling himself in Delhi”.
Jay was the probable candidate of BJD for the Nuapada bypoll scheduled for November 11.
The sharp counter attack came a day after Kalpana Dholakia, the widow of the late MLA, alleged that her husband, who served the BJD for 24 years, was not given the respect he deserved during his final days, which she claimed caused him immense distress and contributed to his death. Jay had also accused BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik of being ‘indifferent’ to his father during his illness.
At a press meet, Tukuni Sahu, Barsha Singh Bariha, Dipali Das, and Alaka Mhohanty called out the mother-son duo for the “false and shameful” remarks against Naveen. “Naveen babu stood by them through Raju Bhai’s illness and even during his last rites. Jay himself said he had the blessings of the party supremo but then went to Delhi and sold himself. Kalpana Bhabhi should explain her son’s actions.”
Barsha Singh Bariha said the BJP got rattled by the swelling support for BJD after Naveen’s visit to Nuapada to campaign for party nominee Snehangini Chhuria. “Fearing defeat after Naveen babu’s visit to Nuapada, the BJP was using Raju Bhai’s family to spread lies.”
Dipali Das called Jay’s actions “a betrayal of his father’s legacy”. “Naveen Babu attended Jay’s wedding and stood by the Dholakia family from Raju bhai’s treatment to his last rites,” she said.
Drawing parallels with her life, Alaka Mohanty asserted that the party supremo has always stood by women in their toughest moments. “I was a housewife and my children were very young when my husband, Speaker Kishore Mohanty, passed away. Yet, Naveen babu stood by me, encouraged me and made me an MLA. Accusations against such a compassionate leader are unwarranted,” she said.
The BJD leaders added that the people of Nuapada will reject BJP’s politics of deceit and stand with Naveen’s leadership.