The Opposition Congress and BJP lashed out at the State Government on the inordinate delay in the Brahma Parivartan rituals. leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra said the State administration was responsible for the irregularities. "When Janaki Ballav Patnaik was the Chief Minister and the previous Nabakalebar held in 1996, he visited the temple several times and it was a success," he pointed out.
Mishra demanded a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the issue. Senior Congress MlA Taraprasad Bahinipati even demanded the Chief Minister's resignation.
BJP legislature Party leader Basant Panda demanded initiation of criminal proceedings against those responsible for "such grave mismanagement, marking an unpardonable and colossal breach of the age-old Puri temple customs and traditions".
BJD spokesperson Sameer Dash said the temple administration and the Government have no role in the delay as the ritual was the prerogative of the temple servitors.
Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, who plays an important role in the Nabakalebar ritual, claimed that he did his job on time. He said he was ready since afternoon of June 15 to go inside the temple for Purnahuti. But the call from the temple came after midnight, he added. "As soon as I got the call, I rushed to perform my duty," he said.