I have visited over 615 villages on foot since Nov 2022: Dhamnagar MLA hits out at BJD's VK Pandian

Responding to the allegations made by BJD leader and 5T Chairman VK Pandian against Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Dhamnagar MLA during his Dhamnagar visit on Wednesday, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday launched a broadside against the bureaucrat-turned-politician. 

Dhamnagar’s BJP MLA Suryabanshi Suraj, while addressing a press conference, on Thursday said, “VK Pandian during his Dhamnagar visit said that I haven’t visited Dhamnagar since elected from the constituency. I want to say here that we don’t believe in big tents, big meetings, big arrangements and coming to the meeting spot by helicopter. So far, after winning the election, I have visited over 615 villages in Dhamnagar NAC on foot.”

“Even yesterday, the moment when the 5T Chairman was alleging that the legislator is conspicuous by his absence, I was among the people who were affected by a fire mishap at a village under Sahaspur panchayat,” he said.

"Pandian Sir and Naveen Babu, where were you when flood affected Dhamnagar in the past? Was your helicopter kaput then? You people giving controversial statement at a government programme is ridiculous,” he added. 

Alleging step motherly treatment, he further asked why Rs 100 crore grant is given to Dhamnagar as compared to Rs 350 crore to Chandbali and Rs 250 crore to Bhadrak. 

The Dhamnagar lawmaker also demanded that the Baitarani embankment yojana should be made functional to save Dhamnagar from flood.