Bhubaneswar: Amid a black flag protest by BJP workers and leaders against 5T secretary VK Pandian’s visit to Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, BJD leader Prasanna Acharya on Thursday said that there is nothing abnormal with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also the party chief, entrusting people with different responsibilities.
“This is no delegation of power. Being the head of the administration, the CM entrusts people with different responsibilities in the government. He has the constitutional right to assign any government official any work. The CM has also instructed ministers and the Chief Secretary to engage with the public directly. An non-issue is being made made into an issue for politics,” he told the media.
People are happy that the government is reaching out to them, he added.
On the central letter, directing the Chief Secretary to take action for alleged violation of conduct rules by an IAS officer of Odisha cadre, the BJD leader said that it is a normal process.
Acharya further said that he fails to understand the cry over constitutional crisis in the state. “Development is the only agenda of the Naveen Patnaik-led government because of which people have reposed faith on the party for 5 consecutive terms. Instead of making baseless allegations, the opposition should also focus on serving the people,” he said.
This will be no impact on the upcoming elections, he added.
Earlier speaking to the media, senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinpati said Odisha is currently under Babutantra (Bureaucratic rule). “Ministers & MLAs are to be blamed for 5T secretary’s visits to different districts. Instead of raising their voice, they’re extending thanks and support to him. An MP said Pandian sir is our CM. They are silent fearing that the party would deny them ticket in upcoming polls,” he said.
Meanwhile in Jagatsinghpur, BJP women members, wearing black sarees, took out a rally at Kujang in protest against Pandian’s visit to the district. Several workers picketed before ADM’s office at Paradip and shouted slogans against the 5T secretary.
On Wednesday, senior BJP leader and opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi had said that the Chief Minister should take action against 5T secretary while alleging that the latter was working against democratic norms. “The way the officer is unleashing assault on democracy in the name of 5T secretary is deplorable,” he said, claiming that he is even trying to enjoy the powers of the CM by blatantly ignoring the role of the elected representatives.
