Bhubaneswar: The BJP Tuesday cited a video of BJD leader Kartik Pandian putting Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s trembling left hand behind the lectern during a campaign speech to reiterate its allegation that the former IAS officer was “controlling” the BJD president.
The BJP has been pushing this narrative during the ongoing polls that the bureaucrat-turned-politician of Tamil origin is “manipulating” an “ailing” Patnaik (77), a charge repeatedly rebutted by the two leaders.
As BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, fired a fresh salvo on the BJD to push their line of attack, Patnaik hit back.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Tuesday alleged that bureaucrat-turned-BJD leader Kartik Pandian is controlling even the hand movements of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.
Responding to the barb, Patnaik said the BJP which is “known to make non-issues into issues” is now discussing his hand movements.
Sharing a video showing Patnaik’s hand shaking while delivering a speech at a meeting and Pandian putting it on a table, Sarma said that it is deeply distressing video. He further said that Pandian is even “controlling the hand movements of Shri Naveen Babu.”
Pandian is considered close to Patnaik who is also the president of the ruling BJD.
“I shudder to imagine the level of control an ex bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is currently exercising over the future of Odisha! BJP is determined is give back the reins of Odisha to the people of the state,” Sarma, who is campaigning in Odisha, said in the post.
Pandian was born in Tamil Nadu, studied in Delhi and started his career as a Punjab cadre IAS officer, but shifted to Odisha cadre after marrying an Odia. The BJP has been calling him an “outsider” in Odisha’s politics.
In response to Sarma’s comment, Patnaik in a video message said, “I believe the BJP which is known to make non-issues into issues, are discussing my hands. This will certainly not work.”
The BJP leader’s remark came hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted in an election rally that Patnaik will be an ex-chief minister June 4, the day on which votes will be counted.
Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held simultaneously in Odisha. The last phase of the polls will be held June 1.
In an X post, BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya Tuesday called for a “graceful farewell to the veteran politician”.
BJP leaders including Shah earlier said that 77-year-old Patnaik should retire due to his advanced age and health issues. The saffron party also promised to make a young Odia-speaking son of the soil the CM if BJP is voted to power.
Patnaik accused the BJP of spreading lies about his health.
“There is a limit to the lies that the BJP can tell. As you can see, I am in very good health, and I have been campaigning for around a month all over the state,” Patnaik had said in a statement.
Pandian had also called the statements of BJP leaders “unfortunate and below the belt”.
PTI