[Watch] Disrespect To Naveen Patnaik? BJP Uses Video To Target V K Pandian; BJD Says It Fake

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of final phase elections in Odisha, the BJP found more ammunition to attack BJD leader V K Pandian, whom it has been accusing of holding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hostage, after a video of the former bureaucrat allegedly nudging the CM’s leg to give some signal from behind during an election rally in Kendrapada surfaced on Wednesday.

Reacting to the video, former state BJP president Samir Mohanty called the incident ‘unfortunate’. “CM Naveen Patnaik is not a rubber doll who can be manhandled every now and then. He is the Chief Minister of 4.5 crore people of Odisha. It is saddening to see such behaviour towards the CM,” he said.

Accusing the BJP of spreading lies with a doctored video, BJD Swayam Prakash shared glimpses from the said rally where Pandian is seen removing his slippers behind the CM’s chair. “Truth always prevail. May Lord Jagannath give those circulating fake video for fear of losing the elections some good sense. If they don’t apologise after seeing this video then it would expose their mentality,” he wrote.

Soon in a video message, the CM also called upon people of Odisha, especially the women and youth, to give a befitting reply to the ‘outside leaders, who are making personal attacks on him and using abusive language, through ballot on June 1.

Naveen added that he has never shown disrespect to anyone nor spoken ill of others.

He further said that he will continue to serve the people of Odisha and stand behind them in trying hours, as has been the case in past when the state battled the COVID pandemic and during cyclones and floods. “I am happy to see the success of Mission Shakti mothers. The youth of the state are also taking confident strides for a better future. They will play an important role in propelling Odisha to the number one position in next one decade,” he added.

This came a day after the saffron party demand for “his graceful farewell” over a video of Pandian, controlling the movement of his left hand while he was addressing an election meeting.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who posted the video on social media platform X, wrote, “Pandian babu is even controlling the hand movements of the Chief Minister. I shudder to imagine the level of control a retired ex-bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is currently exercising over the future of Odisha.”

The Assam CM further said after seeing the video, he is convinced that the CM himself does not sign any document. “A RTI petition should be filed in this regard. I suspect that Pandian ji misuses his digital signature. My request is that as soon as the BJP government is formed, this matter should be investigated.”

The video was widely circulated by the BJP IT cell, including its head Amit Malviya.  “Naveen Patnaik ji has had a memorable tenure as Chief Minister. But now he is indisposed. It is however unfortunate how he is being pushed to keep up a facade. Odisha realises it. A graceful farewell to the veteran politician and BJD, in these elections, would be a befitting tribute,” he wrote.

Naveen had then reacted strongly to the posts in a video message, saying ‘discussing my hands will certainly not work’.

Also Read: Discussing My Hands Won’t Work, Naveen Patnaik Responds To BJP’s Amit Malviya ‘Graceful Farewell’ Post

However, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda, who is the party candidate from Kendrapada, dubbed his video as ‘another AI-generated Deepfake video claiming that all is well’. “The public spectacle of elder abuse of a CM by his puppet master cannot be whitewashed by releasing yet another AI-generated Deepfake video claiming that all is well. To further his own ambition, this puppeteer has manipulated the CM into saying & doing things he never would on his own. The on-stage physical manipulation and manhandling of the CM by this puppeteer was seen by thousands with their own eyes, and many more on live television. Odisha has had enough of being told that black is white and white is black. Now it’s time to say bye bye to the puppeteer,” he posted on X.