Bhubaneswar: A day after Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati created a flutter by praising Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a public function in Jeypore, the Odisha unit of Congress on Saturday attempted to phoo-phoo the issue by terming it as insignificant,
“We should not stoke controversy over it. Bahinipati must have said this in excitement since Chief Minister made several announcements in Jeypore yesterday,” said former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President, Jayadev Jena.
He added that Bahinipati is a senior leader of the Congress and is with the party wholeheartedly.
His fellow Congressman and Jatni MLA Suresh Routray, however, expressed his displeasure over the sloganeering. “It does not augur well for a senior leader like him.”
The Jatni MLA refused to comment on rumours about Bahinipati joining BJD. “Sharat Patnaik or Sonia Gandhi can answer this question better. With elections due in 2024, people are likely to switch parties but it will not affect us,” he added.
Speaking to the media, Bahinipati said that people understand the reason behind the sloganeering. “I am focussed on development of my constituency and had sought varsity status for Vikram Deb College and also an auditorium. I have made it clear that I will never quit Congress,” he said.
During the platinum jubilee function of the college, which has been upgraded to a university, on Friday, Bahinipati not only praised Naveen but also raised slogans like ‘chief minister zindabad’. The Congress MLA also praised the BJD organisational secretary and 5T secretary at the function, giving rise to speculation that there could be a political motive behind his stand.
Following the incident, OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak, who is in New Delhi, told a national daily that he would speak to the MLA after returning to the state.
Notably, the CM laid the foundation stone of development projects worth Rs 1,600 crore, including roads, bridges, drinking water and electrification, for Koraput district the previous day. He announced construction of a modern auditorium with a sitting capacity of 1,000 at Vikram Deb College at the cost Rs 8 crore.
Naveen also inaugurated projects worth Rs 210 crore.
