BJP leader and Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi came down heavily on the BJD for ‘defending’ 5T secretary VK Pandian’s visit across Odisha and alleged that the ruling party’s MPs and MLAs have accepted slavery of the bureaucrat.
Launching a scathing attack on the conch party, Majhi alleged, "BJD MPs and MLAs have accepted slavery of the 5T Secretary. They are not serving the state or the CM. They are at the service of the 5T secretary as they have no other option. They fear denial of tickets or jail term like some other MLAs.”
Congress too slammed the ruling BJD over VK Pandian’s visit across the state. “If the 5T secretary is touring districts, who is responsible for that...Ministers and MLAs are to be blamed for this. Instead of raising voice, they're extending thanks. All are silent fearing ticket denial," alleged Congress MLA Tara Bahinipati.
Responding to the Opposition's dig at the 5T Secretary, BJD vice president Prasanna Acharya said, “Being the supremo of the party, he (Naveen Patnaik) gives responsibilities to party workers. Similarly, being the chief of the government, the CM will assign responsibilities to the officials. This is not delegation of power, rather entrusting responsibilities. He (Naveen) has not given his chief ministerial power to anyone.”