BMC Mayor Sulochana Das, MLA Babu Singh trade barbs on Bhubaneswar Foundation Day

The Bhubaneswar Foundation Day celebrations on Sunday morning took a political turn as Mayor Sulochana Das criticised Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi and Ekamra MLA Babu Singh for their absence from the official event, despite being invited.

The BJD legislator’s remarks sparked a fresh war of words as she targeted the BJP leaders, claiming that for them, the party came before the city.

“Even though invitations were sent, MP Aparajita Sarangi chose not to attend for internal party work. Clearly, for her, the party is bigger than the city, and its people don’t matter,” stated Das.

Further, she also added that, at times, opposition legislators claim that they are not invited to official functions in the state capital, but today they were, and yet they chose not to come.

MLA Babu Singh hits back

In a swift and pointed rebuttal, BJP MLA Babu Singh defended the MP and accused the Mayor of indulging in ‘petty politics.’

“Everyone knows who fights for the party and who fights for the people. For us, the land comes first, then the party. Biju Janata Dal seems to be fighting for outsiders, not the people of Bhubaneswar,” Singh said.

He further stated that his prior absence was communicated in advance to the event organisers. Singh also traded barbs at Das, stating that the Mayor is regarded as the first citizen of the city and such statements are highly regrettable.

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Till the last reports came in, MP Aparajita Sarangi had not responded to the Mayor’s accusations.