Sambalpur: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday claimed that his Odisha counterpart, Naveen Patnaik, is running the government under the instructions of BJD leader VK Pandian, who is calling the shots in the state by holding Naveen as ‘hostage’.
During a poll campaign here, Sarma said elections this time is all about the dignity of Odisha. Sarma alleged that Patnaik is always accompanied by Pandian and is “not free to move anywhere in the state without the 5T Chairman’s approval”. “I am also the CM of a state. I can personally meet anyone and people can also meet me. The same is in the case of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. However, the Odisha CM cannot meet anyone personally. No one can also meet him alone as Pandian always stays with him. One needs to find out whether Naveen babu himself is with Pandian or if Pandian is playing some game due to which Naveen babu cannot get out of his grip,” Sarma alleged. “If a CM, a constitutionallyelected CM, is in a hostage situation, it is not good for Odisha and the country as well,” the Assam CM pointed out. “I feel that the Chief Justice or a judge of the Orissa High Court, or the Governor should talk to Naveen babu alone to assess his well-being and ensure he is not under any duress,” he suggested.