V K Pandian Blames Centre For Working Against Odisha On Mahandi Issue; Lists Out BJD’s Promises To Middle Class

Bhubaneshwar: Launching a counter to BJP’s onslaught on the BJD government in Odisha, 5T Chairman V K Pandian on Monday criticised the Centre for siding with the Chhattisgarh government on Mahanadi water sharing issue.

“You can clearly seen in their affidavit how they joined forces against Odisha government in the Supreme Court to thwart formation of the Mahandai tribunal. A Union Minister from the state also had a role on it. We fought against them and finally got an order in our favour from the court. Had the tribunal not formed, Chhattisgarh would have continued building barrages over the Mahanadi. It is because of the efforts of CM Naveen Patnaik that Odisha can now expect justice on the issue,” he said in an indirect dig at Dharmendra Pradhan, who is contesting from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, through a video message on Instagram.

Mahandi is the lifeline of Odisha and they should have refrained from doing politics over it, he added.

The BJD has been questioning the Union Minister on his dilly-dallying attitude towards the issue while blaming him for making strategies for the failure of the Mahanadi tribunal. The saffron party, on the other hand, has portrayed Pandian as the face of corruption and mismanagement of the BJD rule in Odisha.

In another video message, Pandian spoke about the BJD government’s efforts to strength the middle-class, whom he described as the engine for growth in the state. “The CM Naveen Patnaik has done a lot for the middle-class. The BJD manifesto for 2024 has four provisions for them. The CM has decided to reduce the burden on the middle class by giving BSKY Card to almost the entire state, interest subvention on home loans up to Rs 20 lakh, and Nua-O scholarship, which will ensure interest subvention on educational loan for their children. You can also travel at concessional rates in public transport,” he said.

With polling underway for 35 assembly constituencies of the Odisha legislative assembly and five Lok Sabha seats, the BJD leader also expressed confidence that the ruling party led by Naveen Patnaik will sweep the second-round elections in the state.

“BJD will do very well in the second phase of the elections. Maybe much better than the first phase of elections. (Naveen Patnaik) Chief Minister’s hard work, government’s commitment, people have a lot of faith and BJD will sweep the second phase of elections also,” he told ANI.

Taking about his roadshow at Sambalpur on Sunday, Pandian said that it showed the popularity of the CM and BJD’s schemes. “So, we could see a huge transformation happening in Sambalpur.”