: All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Madhusmita Acharya on Thursday organised a symbolic ‘marriage ceremony’ between the BJD and BJP stating that the Congress is formalising the close relationship between the two political parties.
The ceremony was conducted at Jemasuni Temple under Dharmasala block in Jajpur district by a priest who performed yajna with chanting of hymns in the presence of many senior Congress leaders.
Congress workers distributed invitation cards and put up posters for the marriage of the two political parties earlier. Amid drum beats and chanting of mantras, all rituals were performed by the Congress workers, who were wearing masks of leaders of the two parties (BJP and BJD), to solemnise the "marriage".
In the "BJP weds BJD" cards, PM Narendra Modi was mentioned as the groom's father and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as the bride's father. "The BJD and the BJP have been in a live-in relationship for the past 23 years. Lest they should not get a bad name in society, we have organised their wedding," AICC member Acharya said. "They roam hand in hand in Delhi's Lodhi Garden and stage drama of political opponents in Odisha," she alleged.
The BJD supported the BJP in the land acquisition bill, which was later withdrawn, farm laws, demonetisation, GST, presidential polls and the Citizenship Amendment Bill, besides the candidature of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for Rajya Sabha poll. In return, no CBI or ED ever came to Odisha for any investigation, she alleged further.
Acharya claimed that Odisha has been poorer in hands of BJD and Congress is the only alternative.