Bhubaneswar: Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Tuesday said leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik’s reply to the budget discussion the previous day displayed his arrogance.
Referring to Naveen’s use of the word ‘jumla’ for BJP’s budget promises, Harichandan said, “It’s unbecoming of a person who has been CM for 24 years and also belittle the dignity of the Vidhan Sabha… Arrogance has no place in politics.”
Naveen had also said Majhi’s maiden budget repeated 80% of the schemes launched by his govt and doubted how the BJP govt would manage to fulfil its poll promises.
Raising a point of order, the minister said the bad effects of 24 years of BJD governance are still being felt. “But within a year, people will forget the BJD as development work under the new govt gathers pace,” Harichandan said, while also flaying Naveen’s boycott of the governor’s address.
Harichandan, who also holds the portfolios of excise and works departments, said many other former CMs, too, had become leaders of opposition. He praised former chief minister J B Patnaik, who as leader of the opposition used to raise issues in a dignified manner during Naveen’s initial years as CM.
Stating that more than 60% MLAs are first-timers who look up to senior members to learn, the minister said senior members and opposition leaders lead by example. “I am also a first-time MLA. We have not come here to learn to break microphones,” he said.
Harichandan also criticised Naveen’s decision to assign an individual to tour all 147 assembly constituencies as his shadow CM before the last elections.

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