Rift Within BJD: Soumya Ranjan Patnaik’s Editorial Targets 5T Secy V K Pandian, Fuels Political Debate

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) spokesperson Anubhav Patnaik on Friday slammed party MLA from Khandapada Soumya Ranjan Patnaik  for his column, ‘Janmadinara Anuchinta’, in which he took a jibe at  5T Secretary of the Odisha government over his estimated Rs 300 crore chopper tours.

In a series of tweets, the BJD spokesperson, who is also the former MLA from Khandapada, described him as a “double-faced, power-greedy blackmailer in Odisha politics”. He went on to give details about his desperation for a MLA ticket. “He said that his last wish was to enter the Odisha Vidhan Sabha as MLA even if it’s for one day. After becoming MLA, he again went around desperately pleading with folded hands that now his last wish was to be a Minister, even if it’s for a few days.”

He further wrote: “The people of Odisha know his double-standards & how low he can stoop for his selfish gains. A man who has created a state as well as national record for party- hopping and being driven out of most parties in his life due to his greed and disloyalty is talking of ‘Mati’ today.”

The Kandhapada MLA had questioned the rationale behind money spent on the 5T Secretary’s visits to various parts of the state in a chopper when collectors have been appointed in every district to hear the grievances of people.

Stating that Patnaik has expressed his personal opinion in the newspaper column, BJD MLA Raj Kishore Das said, “Whenever the secretary is visiting various parts of the state, people are participating in the meetings spontaneously to inform about their grievances.”

On the other, BJP MP from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi said that this question has been raised before and it also triggered a row in the past. “This is being discussed in each and every village and marketplace in all 30 districts of Odisha. People are asking who is the Chief Minister? It would look good if the CM takes such tours. A secretary-level government employee visiting various places in a chopper is against the decorum. Odisha is a poor state, and spending so much money on such trips is not advisable,” she stressed.

Aparajita also expressed pity over the helplessness of the MLAs and ministers of Odisha government.

Senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said that Patnaik is right in saying ‘Aage Mati, Pare Party’ (state is bigger than party). “Earlier, he had asked who is bigger, minister or secretary? There is no doubt that huge amount of money from the state’s exchequer is being spent on such tours during which food is served to people, who are also being brought in several vehicles from outside the districts to attend the programmes,” he said.