Following Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s resignation from the Bijepur Assembly seat on Sunday, the BJP on Monday strongly criticised his decision alleging that he has failed the people of Bijepur in particular and western Odisha in general.
Party MLA Jayanaryan Mishra said Patnaik contested the elections from western Odisha and won. But now, why he has ditched the people of Bijepur is a matter of surprise, he said.
“It may also be noted that the Chief Minister had promised various schemes for Bijepur residents post the by-elections in that constituency in 2018. Hardly anything has progressed, and again he announced a few more packages for Bijepur development,” said Mishra.
The State Government has announced a special package for Bijepur keeping the forthcoming by-election there in mind.
This is the first cased of betrayal of the Government in its fifth term, alleged Mishra.
Bargarh BJP MP Suresh Pujari said, “Naveen Patnaik, before the elections, had said he was contesting from Bijepur because of the demand of the people of western Odisha. If it was so, then is it people who demanded him to resign from Bijepur and retain his Hinjili seat,” Pujari questioned.
“Perhaps, the CM is not feeling comfortable with a BJP MP (of Bargarh) and that may be the reason behind his quitting Bijepur,” Pujari remarked.