Bhubaneswar: The increasing differences within ruling BJD came to the fore yet again on Sunday with Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik targeting secretary to CM (5T) V K Pandian and party spokesperson Anubhav Patnaik, challenging the legislator to prove his claims.
In his latest editorial column published in leading Odia daily Sambad, the BJD MLA compared the expenses being incurred on the 5T secretary’s whirlwind tours of Odisha with the recent India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission. “While only Rs 600 crore was spent on ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, it is being alleged that similar expenses have been incurred for the 5T secretary’s visit to almost 30 districts in the state,” he wrote.
Soumya further accused the 5T secretary V K Pandian of violating the ‘official briefing’ during his address in such meetings, ostensibly to collect public grievance on the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “At one podium, he said, ‘Asantu aame Naveenbabu knu sastha thara paithe mukyapantri kariba (let’s vote Naveen Patnaik to power for the sixth consecutive term’). There is no doubt that Naveen babu is set to become the CM for the sixth time with the blessings of the people of Odisha. But it is important for him to remember that he is representing the CM in a government event,” he said.
The Khandapada MLA then went on to draw parallels between Pandian and Yashpal Kapoor, a gazetted officer in the Government of India, holding the post of Officer on Special Duty in Prime Minister’s Secretariat during the tenure of Indira Gandhi. “Indira Gandhi’s election was invalidated by the Allahabad High Court because Kapoor had delivered an election speech for her. Subsequently, she declared a state of emergency across the country, which saw stifling of dissent, and government crackdown on civil liberties,” he wrote.
He also mentioned about political overtone in the meetings being conducted by Pandian ahead of the 2024 elections and how people’s representatives and political leaders have been relegated to the background. “With the 5T secretary taking the centre stage, it appears to be an concerted attempt to create an identity for him,” the column read.
Soumya Patnaik also criticised the alleged attack on Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi when he travelled to Ganjam to oppose the bureaucrat and termed it as ‘bad optics’. “The allegations levelled by Panigrahi, who was once a close aide of the CM, are serious. He has called Pandian a liar. He has alleged that while the samadhi (memorial) of late chief minister Biju Patnaik at Swargadwar crematorium in Puri was removed following the court order, the 5T secretary lied about it to present the CM in good light,” the legislator added.
While addressing the Odia Diaspora in Dubai in May, the 5T secretary said that the CM ordered dismantling of his father and former CM Biju Patnaik’s ‘samadhi’ at Swargadwar in Puri in 2019 to create more space at the crematorium and facilitate beautification drive in the pilgrim town. “After seeing that a corner of the plot remained blocked due to the memorial, the chief minister decided to dismantle it. Other members of the Patnaik family also shared the same opinion. The CM said that his father lives in the hearts of people and not in stone,” Pandian had said.
The state government or Pandian are yet to issue any statement on it.
In a tweet, BJD spokesperson and former Khandapada MLA Anubhav Patnaik, however, challenged Soumya Patnaik to telecast the speech of 5T secretary where he alleged to have urged the people to make Naveen Patnaik the CM for the sixth term. “I challenge you that within 12 hours you show it on your channel or in your newspaper where he has said it with evidence. If it turns out to be true I will resign from politics and if you cannot give evidence then people of Odisha will know that you are a liar (michua).”
The BJD spokesperson has also sought evidence on his claim that Rs 300 crore being spent on visit of 5T secretary. “You are well aware that few years back the then Petroleum Minister from Odisha has spent Rs 600 crore for advertisement. Where was your conscience then? As per your calculations you both could have gone to the moon and settled there along with the then Petroleum Minister (sic).”
He also question Soumya Patnaik for supporting Pradeep Panigrahi, who has been “chargesheeted in many cheating cases”. “Your lies and your personal and political greed has been completely exposed before the people of Odisha. However, I hope within 12 hours you will provide the evidence I have asked for,” he added.
Speaking to media, Bhubaneswar MP from BJP Aparajita Sarangi said that the BJD should give importance to the issues being raised by the Khandapada MLA. “Maybe, he wants to bring the party back on track. I have earlier said that the secretary-level official is not entitled to the security being provided to him. Government money and machinery are being used to launch his political career. People of Odisha will soon realise this,” she added.
