BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has regretted that after promoting Baijayant Panda in politics for last two decades, the latter has turned out to be a “traitor”.
Patnaik, during his election campaign, said he now rues having nominated Panda as BJD candidate from the Kendrapada Lok Sabha seat twice, supporting his elections in 2009 and 2014.
Panda, who had last year resigned from the BJD, recently joined the BJP and is contesting from Kendrapada Lok Sabha seat as a saffron party candidate this time.
“I had assigned a young and highly educated person the task of development of Kendrapada. However, he betrayed the people and worked for himself," Patnaik alleged. Patnaik was in Kendrapada for two days where he held massive road shows.
"The people of Kendrapada will never spare the traitor,” said Patnaik, who wanted his detractor’s defeat.
Patnaik has assured the people of Kendrapada that development of the district is his responsibility. He said he would now personally monitor the progress of this coastal zone.
He said that this time he has nominated an educated and popular youth, who would work for an overall development of Kendrapada. He was referring to Rajya Sabha member and cine star Anubhav Mohanty who is contesting against Panda.
However, Panda rejected the allegations made by Patnaik. He said in a Twitter handle, "Sad to see how Naveen has been hoodwinked by his coterie! One of the greatest proponents of the Haridaspur-Paradip rail project was Biju uncle (Naveen Patnaik's father Biju Patnaik) himself!
This 40-yr-old dream for Kendrapara remained on paper till I became MP, pushed it thru with hundreds of review meetings."