Politics is now active in Odisha with Congress and BJP launching scathing attacks on the state government over 5T Secretary VK Pandian’s whirlwind tours. A day after the 5T Secretary played an audio message at a meeting in Bargarh with CM Naveen Patnaik’s voice claiming that he has sent the officer to inquire about the well-being of people, the state Congress on Tuesday questioned the authenticity of the audio clip.
While talking to media, Odisha Pradesh Congress President Sarat Pattanayak said, “What is the proof that the audio is of Chief Minister? We cannot accept that it is CM’s audio. If the CM has really sent him, it should be informed to the people in Odisha in written.”
The Congress further questioned whether the Odisha government will incur similar expenses in case with other secretaries against what is being done during 5T secretary’s visit.
“Is the CM is sending Pandian as a secretary or as a CM? It is not personal thing as it is people’s money and where is the planning for such expenses. Whatever is being said should be given in written. Will the state government spend such money towards security and other expenses for other secretaries’ visit?,” questioned Pattanayak.
According to Pattanayak, Congress is not against development. But the state government which failed to develop religious institutions in the last 25 years, it is now showing pro-activeness eyeing elections.
Senior Congress leader Jayadev Jena said, “BJP-BJD are having nexus and will fight elections together. The people of Odisha have accepted Congress as the only alternative. We have not seen such a condition in the past 50 years of political career as the way 5T Secretary is making announcements and playing an audio recording during Bargarh visit claiming that CM has sent him. It seems that stalemate situation has cropped in BJD and BJP.”
According to Jena, the audio has proved that the CM is no longer in a condition to visit anywhere.