CM hints at betrayal by Jay, says sole interest was to expand his biz | Bhubaneswar News
KENDRAPADA/BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday hinted at “betrayal” by former colleague and BJP Kendrapada Lok Sabha candidate Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda and said his only interest was to further his business empire, a charge denied by Baijayant, who said the CM has been repeating whatever the ‘Tamil babu’ is saying, hinting at Naveen’s trusted aide V K Pandian.
Addressing a gathering at Barua, on the outskirts of Kendrapada town, ahead of the last phase of election on June 1, Naveen said, “I had sent a person from Kendrapada to Parliament for 10 years. But he used the opportunity only to expand his business empire, betraying the people of Kendrapada and me.” Though Naveen did not name Baijayant, there was not much doubt as to whom the attack was directed at. Baijayant was elected twice from Kendrapada, in 2009 and 2014, on a BJD ticket. In 2018, Baijayant was suspended from the party. Later, he joined the BJP.
‘Baijayant wanted to become CM’
Speaking at the same venue, bureaucrat-turned-BJD politician V K Pandian said Baijayant harboured ambition of replacing Naveen as chief minister. Pandian said Baijayant spread rumours about Naveen’s health for more than 10 years. “He wanted to become chief minister quickly. By the almighty’s blessings, Naveen babu continues to be in good health and ready to serve the state for another 10 years,” Pandian said at the rally.
He alleged that Baijayant, as member of the parliamentary committee on finance, helped his family-run company by waiving off crores of rupees in loans.
“He wanted to be chairman of the committee, but Naveen realised his nefarious design and stopped him. The same could have brought a bad name for the state and BJD,” Pandian said.
In the 2019 election, Baijayant lost to BJD’s Anubhav Mohanty by 1,81,483 votes. BJD also won all seven assembly constituencies under the Kendrapada Lok Sabha seat. This time the BJD has fielded Anshuman Mohanty, who left Congress, against Baijayant.
Dismissing the allegations, Baijayant said, “The ruling party here is worried. They are coming out with false allegations. I heard there were some baseless allegations levelled by the CM. I am not blaming the CM. He has been repeating whatever the Tamil babu, who has captured him, has been dictating him.”
Baijayant, who was addressing an election rally in Kendrapada, added, “I have not joined politics to amass wealth. Lord Jagannath has given us enough. I have come here to work for the people.”
Addressing a gathering at Barua, on the outskirts of Kendrapada town, ahead of the last phase of election on June 1, Naveen said, “I had sent a person from Kendrapada to Parliament for 10 years. But he used the opportunity only to expand his business empire, betraying the people of Kendrapada and me.” Though Naveen did not name Baijayant, there was not much doubt as to whom the attack was directed at. Baijayant was elected twice from Kendrapada, in 2009 and 2014, on a BJD ticket. In 2018, Baijayant was suspended from the party. Later, he joined the BJP.
‘Baijayant wanted to become CM’
Speaking at the same venue, bureaucrat-turned-BJD politician V K Pandian said Baijayant harboured ambition of replacing Naveen as chief minister. Pandian said Baijayant spread rumours about Naveen’s health for more than 10 years. “He wanted to become chief minister quickly. By the almighty’s blessings, Naveen babu continues to be in good health and ready to serve the state for another 10 years,” Pandian said at the rally.
He alleged that Baijayant, as member of the parliamentary committee on finance, helped his family-run company by waiving off crores of rupees in loans.
“He wanted to be chairman of the committee, but Naveen realised his nefarious design and stopped him. The same could have brought a bad name for the state and BJD,” Pandian said.
In the 2019 election, Baijayant lost to BJD’s Anubhav Mohanty by 1,81,483 votes. BJD also won all seven assembly constituencies under the Kendrapada Lok Sabha seat. This time the BJD has fielded Anshuman Mohanty, who left Congress, against Baijayant.
Dismissing the allegations, Baijayant said, “The ruling party here is worried. They are coming out with false allegations. I heard there were some baseless allegations levelled by the CM. I am not blaming the CM. He has been repeating whatever the Tamil babu, who has captured him, has been dictating him.”
Baijayant, who was addressing an election rally in Kendrapada, added, “I have not joined politics to amass wealth. Lord Jagannath has given us enough. I have come here to work for the people.”
