After Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) abysmal performance in the recently-concluded 2024 General Elections, the party leaders seem to be trying their best to upkeep the brand image of party supremo and outgoing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
While the party is yet to overcome the shock of losing power after 24 long years following the 'unexpected' mandate to the BJP, Naveen tried to resurrect the shattered confidence of the party leaders at Naveen Niwas by saying that there is nothing to be ashamed of.
In a bid to portray a clean image of Naveen, party leaders are also taking to social media platforms to erase the bloat of 5T Chairman VK Pandian.
"Naveen Patnaik was the No.1 and the most popular Chief Minister in India. Naveen Babu still lies in the hearts of all the Odia people," said BJD leader Pratap Jena.
BJP takes dig at Patnaik
Meanwhile, the BJP took a dig at Patnaik by saying that he can't escape by blaming others for BJD's poll debacle.
"Who had given appointment to Pandian? Who helped Pandian? Both Pandian and Naveen are equally responsible for the situation. They (BJD leaders) are doing drama over the matter which will not help them anymore. Naveen is mainly responsible for it," said BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra.
"They have created a weak narrative for self-defence which will not be accepted. Many people have told me that Duryodhan had no fault as Shakuni misguided him. However, Duryodhan had the freedom whether to choose Shakuni as his guide or not. If Arjun chose Srikrishna, why did Duryodhan choose Shakuni? Who had given the power to Pandian? Had people chosen Naveen Patnaik or Pandian as the Chief Minister? A government servant tried to make the people of Odisha his servants and treated BJD's Ministers and MPs as servants. Couldn't Naveen understand it?" asked BJP leader Pratap Sarangi.
Question mark over BJD's governance
Moreover, questions are also being raised over Naveen Patnaik's 24 years of governance. As per the Niti Aayog report, in terms of farmers' income, Odisha is currently languishing at the second spot from the bottom in the country. The State is number one in terms of unemployment with 41 per cent of the youth having no jobs. The State is in at 14th spot in the health index.
Odisha is also lagging way behind in the list of Maternal Mortality rate and Infant Mortality rate in the country. Around 48 per cent of scheduled tribes are illiterate and the dropout rate in the State is nearly 50 per cent. Odisha also tops the list in terms of crime against women and missing children.
"My little daughter has been missing for a long time. The government is fully responsible for it. The government knows everything. However, we were not given justice," rued missing minor girl Pihu's mother, Soudamini.