A verbal duel has been triggered between the BJD and the BJP over BJD organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das’ remark on Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan contesting from the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat.
In a post on his X handle, Das alleged that Dharmendra has not only lost the confidence and trust of the BJP but also the faith of people in his leadership.
Hitting back at Das, BJP Leader of Opposition Jayanarayan Mishra accused Das of crossing all limits of sycophancy.
Accusing Dharmendra of dreaming to become Chief Minister for the last ten years, Das claimed that the BJP never declared him as its Chief Ministerial candidate as he has lost his party’s trust.
The BJP knows it well that the number of party MLAs would fall below ten if Dharmendra is declared as CM candidate, the BJD leader claimed.
Das further claimed that the Union Minister tried to nurture Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat for ten years but had to drop the idea after the dismal show of BJP in the last panchayat polls. People of Sambalpur are also vigilant and will vote for the right candidate, he said.
Mishra accused Das of making wild charges due to feat of defeat in the upcoming elections. The people of Sambalpur would give a fitting reply to Pranab in the coming elections, he said.
Stating that Dharmendra is not new to Sambalpur, he said the Union Minister has close bond with the western Odisha constituency. Dharmendra was earlier elected from Deogarh, which is part of the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, said Mishra.
