Bhubaneswar: A day after BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s ‘betrayal’ jibe in his maiden election rally as Leader of Opposition in Nuapada, BJP nominee Jay Dholakia on Tuesday issued a sharp rebuttal, accusing the former Chief Minister of ignoring his late father Rajendra Dholakia, who was the sitting MLA of the regional party, during his illness.
“When my father was battling for life in hospital, the BJD leadership neither visited him or called to enquire about his health. They also did not participate in his Shradhanjali meeting. Now, just a month later, they are in Nuapada seeking votes,” lamented Jay, who was tipped to contest the by-election, necessitated by the death of his father, as a BJD candidate, but switched sides to BJP.
Jay admitted that he was hurt by Naveen’s recent remarks as he looked up to him as a father figure. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. People of the constituency know who the real leader is. My father gave his life to BJD, but the party conveniently ignored him and his legacy after his death,” he remarked.
He had earlier attributed his decision to join the BJP to this pain and betrayal.
The political battleground in Nuapada turned fiery on Monday as Naveen hurled “vote chori” allegation at the ruling BJP and accused it of poaching its candidate. “They (BJP) had stolen votes to form the government earlier and now they have stolen a candidate. This is a betrayal of the people, of the BJD and of me personally. The people of Nuapada will give a befitting reply to this betrayal on November 11,” he said, referring to Jay, who joined the BJP within weeks of his father’s death.
The BJD has fielded two-time Attabira MLA Churia from the seat.
