In an attempt to undercut the Naveen Patnaik-led government yesterday, Pradhan visited the poll-bound Jharsuguda district, alleging the government was being led by two bureaucrats who were not even Odia-born.
In a broadside against Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the party is no longer a political party.
During his visit to the Jharsuguda district yesterday, Pradhan, who is in the country for a campaign, complained that the government under Naveen Patnaik is run by two bureaucrats who are not even Odia nationals.
Has Puri ever been the shelter of dread criminals? Has there ever been violence like that seen in Sambalpur during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in the state? Until now, Odisha had never witnessed anything like this,” Pradhan said.
The state is currently governed under a form of dictatorship called a dictatorship. I would like to point out that the BJD is no longer considered a political party. The majority of the party’s leadership consists of non-Odia bureaucrats. There were heckles hurled at the Rourkela MLA during the inauguration of the party office for the BJD,” the Union Minister said.
Coming down heavily on the State government over Naba Das’ murder case and the abduction and killing of minor boy Samarth Agarwal, Pradhan said, “Industrial hub Jharsuguda needs peace, not chaos.”
A byelection scheduled for May 10 will be held in Jaharsuguda and all three major political parties are intensifying their campaigning. The votes will be counted
As part of its campaign for the bypoll in Jharsuguda, the BJP has fielded Tankadhar Tripathy. Dipali Das of the BJD and Tarun Pandey of the Congress will contest the election alongside Tankadhar.
In response to the allegations made by the Union Minister, the BJD could not be reached for comment.