Bhubaneswar: With Odisha set to vote in a few days, BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan and BJD leader V K Pandian are taking frequent potshots at each other, especially with the saffron party making ‘Odia Asmita’ a major poll issue.
On Wednesday, Dharmendra, who never misses an opportunity to use the word ‘gumasta (representative/agent)’ in an indirect dig at former IAS officer Pandian, reacted to certain allegations made by the BJD leader in a dismissive manner. “Who is he?” he asked when reporters queried him about an interview in which Pandian questioned the Union Minister’s contribution to Odisha.
In an interview to local television channels, Pandian, arguably the second most important leader in BJD after party president Naveen Patnaik, blasted Dharmendra and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi for attempting to stall the Srimandi Parikrama Prakalpa of Lord Jagannath in Puri. “I often lose my temper while talking about it which is very unlike me. Both Dharmendra and Aparajita were completely exposed in Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa. It showed their commitment to Lord Jagannath, Odia Asmita (pride) and Jagannath culture. They tried to stall the project through ASI, National Monuments Authority (NMA) and by filing petitions in High Court and Supreme Court. They also hired an expensive lawyer to ensure the project does not take off,” he claimed.
Pandian said these attempts were made since they were aware that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s name will be inked in history for implementing the project and he will earn praises from Jagannath devotees. “It was a desperate bid by them for political gains. They even took the Samalei project to SC in an attempt to delay it and ensure these two are not completed before the elections,” he alleged in an interview to local channels.
The CM had set a target of 3 years to compete these projects, he asserted.
He further alleged that the Opposition leaders had declined the invite to attend the foundation stone laying and inauguration of the Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa. “The CM had kept this project above politics and written to all leaders, inviting them for the events. I had also telephoned them personally,” he claimed.
The BJD leader said the main objective behind the heritage corridor project was to ensure the safety of the 12th-century shrine. “We often receive intelligence inputs on possible attack on the temple. The main road ran along the Meghanada Pacheri, putting the shrine at risk. Therefore, we decided to shift commercial establishments close to the temple and provide an expansive and unobstructed corridor around it,” he said.
Speaking about the padayatra of Aparajita Sarangi in Puri, he said it was nothing but a drama enacted by the former IAS officer.
Pandian said if Dharmendra had done any good for Odisha then Naveen would have not fielded a candidate against him in Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat. “The CM would have said he is the pride of Odisha and we should send him to the Lok Sabha without any contest. Dharmendra’s karmabhoomi was Dhenkanal but he did not contest any election there in the last 10 years. He then went to Sambalpur, thinking that it will be a safe seat for him. He could not even open Kendriya Vidyalaya & skill development centres in every block of Dhenkanal despite being a Cabinet minister at the Centre with Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship portfolios. He should show his report card to the people of Odisha.”
Criticising the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, he said, “These are hollow and false assurances. The Centre has not given a single rupee for the promotion of Odia language In 2019, eight BJP MPs were elected from the state. Did they ever spoke in Parliament on the interests of Odisha?” Only during election time, the Union Ministers show their love for Odia language and talk about Asmita.”
He said that BJD will sweep the first round elections in Odisha on May 13. “In undivided Koraput district, the fight is mostly against Congress. In Kalahandi, Congress has some presence at 2-3 segments. Ganjam will witness one-sided fight as people have much faith in the CM and love him dearly. The BJD will sweep all four rounds of the elections,” he asserted.
The BJD leader alleged that the BJP struggled to put up candidates in at least 60 Assembly segments. “The BJP is not fighting to win the election. It has only one strategy, grab 50 to 60 seats and then poach on BJD MLAs to form a government in Odisha.”
Pandian added that Odisha is his karmabhoomi and Odia is the mother tongue of his two children. “I have a emotional connection with the state. I love Odisha and will continue to work for it,” he added.
