Bhubaneswar: A tea seller is grabbing the spotlight after coronation of Mohan Charan Majhi as the chief minister of Odisha.
He was an attraction at Viswakarma Puja in Paradip this year as people gathered for a glimpse of him and even shook hands despite a puzzled look on their face. They had mistaken him for CM Majhi and a closer look revealed that he was but his lookalike, Umesh Kumar Sahoo.
The native of Punang village in Jagatsinghpur district, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the CM from his hairstyle to height, has been making appearances dressed up as his doppelganger at several events, including BJP meetings. He has posed with Deputy CM Pravati Parida and Industries Minister Sampad Swain. He has also shared stage with Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarei, MLA Amarendra Das, and Paradip MLA Sampad Swain, among others.
“People are responding well and are also coming forward to take selfie with me. They calls me CM of Jagatsinghpur district. Some people even narrate their problems, though I feel bad for them, I try to do whatever is possible at my end,” Sahoo said.
He said it started with the banner he had put up during Rath Yatra. “That is when people said that I resembled Mohan sir and encouraged me to dress up like him. The BJP leaders were also happy to see me when I presented them with bouquet during an event,” he said.
When asked about his wish, Sahoo said that he would like to meet the CM someday.