Naveen Patnaik has mentioned he doing nicely and hopes to proceed to serve the folks of Odisha
New Delhi:
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged a “sudden deterioration” in Naveen Patnaik’s well being situation, the Odisha Chief Minister at present mentioned he’s “very nicely” and hopes to “proceed to serve the folks of my state”.
The Biju Janata Dal chief, the second longest-serving chief minister of the nation, was talking to information company ANI forward of the ultimate part of polling within the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. The state polls in Odisha are being held alongside the final election.
A sequence of social media movies purportedly displaying Mr Patnaik in a frail situation had prompted the BJP to query his well being. In a rally at Odisha’s Balasore, the Prime Minister hinted at a “conspiracy” behind the “sudden deterioration” within the 77-year-old Chief Minister’s well being. “Is the foyer that’s at present working the Patnaik authorities on his behalf accountable for it?” the Prime Minister mentioned, including that if the BJP involves energy within the japanese state, it’ll type a panel to probe this matter.
Quickly after, Mr Patnaik responded, “Let me guarantee the PM that I’m in good well being and I’ve been campaigning within the state for the final month. He has acknowledged publicly earlier that I’m his good good friend. All he needed to do was choose up the phone and ask me about my well being. However various BJP folks from Odisha and Delhi are spreading rumours about my well being.”
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Requested about his comment wherein he mentioned that the Prime Minister might have simply picked up the telephone and checked on him, Mr Patnaik advised ANI, “The PM has mentioned in public conferences that I’m a great good friend of his. So wasn’t it his obligation, if he heard these rumours and was involved, to have simply picked up the phone and requested me about them?”
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a video of Mr Patnaik wherein his hand seems to be shaking. Additionally seen within the video is VK Pandian, Mr Patnaik’s long-term aide and a former IAS officer who has now joined BJD. The BJP has repeatedly focused Mr Pandian, alleging that he’s controlling the state authorities.
“This can be a deeply distressing video. Shri VK Pandian ji is even controlling the hand actions of Shri Naveen Babu. I shudder to think about the extent of management a retired ex bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is at present exercising over the way forward for Odisha!” Mr Sarma posted on X. Mr Patnaik responded, “I consider the BJP which is understood to make non-issues into points, are discussing my fingers. It will definitely not work.”
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Through the interview with ANI, Mr Patnaik was requested about allegations that Mr Pandian is his “gatekeeper” and takes selections on the Chief Minister’s behalf. “That’s ridiculous and I’ve mentioned this typically earlier than. It is an previous allegation and it holds no weight,” the veteran chief replied.
Odisha is among the many BJP’s key focus areas on this election, and social gathering leaders have mentioned they’re assured of a great present in each the final election and state polls. Union House Minister Amit Shah has mentioned their Odisha goal is to win 17 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats within the state and 75 out of 147 Meeting seats. The BJD received 12 seats within the state in 2019, whereas the BJP bagged proper. In truth, the 2 events had been anticipated to tie-up forward of the polls, however the talks fell by.