A day after BJD MP Baijayant Panda took a dig at an official posted in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), CM and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Friday said his office is attacked by those when they have no other issues.
“When they have no other issues, they attack my office. This is nothing new,” Patnaik said speaking to reporters here.
On being asked about seeking an explanation from Panda over his statement, Patnaik said, “Whatever is appropriate will be done. I’m busy with development works for the State and people are well aware of what’s going on.”
Patnaik’s statement indicated that Kendrapada MP Panda’s days in the BJD are numbered. In fact, Panda’s conduct and utterances over months have been suggesting that he is increasingly leaning towards the BJP, the leadership of which might be considering him as the party’s lok Sabha candidate in Kendrapada or elsewhere.
Political quarters even speculate that Panda is aspiring as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the BJP in the State.
In response to Patnaik’s statements, Panda Tweeted, “I’m v.disheartened. Did Biju Babu also have”no other issues” when he demanded action against corrupt babusIJ If no issue, why 5 police platoons in MahangaIJ Was it I who created disturbance in MahangaIJ Was I not just doing my job peacefullyIJ I still plead for my leader to examine.”
Notably, after inaugurating a public project at Buhalo under Nischintakoili block of Cuttack district on Thursday, Panda had said, “There is no need to respect officers who forget their service code and start doing politics and interfere in party affairs and support those who indulge in anti-people activities.”
Reacting sharply to Panda’s comments, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb had said, “In the last three years, it is being stated that officers are doing politics and getting involved in politics. Whose utterance is it and is being reiteratedIJ He is none other than the Hon’ble Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Our Hon’ble Kendrapada MP Baijayant Panda has also echoed the same.”
He said both have similar views on the matter since general elections are slated for next year and “many fence sitters will be switching sides”.