Naveen Patnaik ignored proposal for youth employment in Keonjhar: Ex-BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy

Former BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy has once again taken aim at ex-Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, this time accusing him of ignoring a proposal that could have linked mining operations in Keonjhar to local youth employment.

Satpathy, speaking at a public programme on Sunday, said Naveen repeatedly brushed aside his idea for creating block-level societies run by young men and women to manage mining operations.

Satpathy Claims Proposal Was Dismissed

According to Satpathy, his model envisioned each block in Keonjhar district forming a non-profit society of 26 students, made up of 13 boys and 13 girls, tasked with managing local mines. Half of the revenue would have gone to the state, while the rest would be shared equally among the students.

“I suggested this idea to Naveen Patnaik three times. He first asked me to speak to Pyarimohan Mohapatra, but later brushed off the proposal altogether. Eventually, I backed off when it became clear he was not interested,” Satpathy alleged.

The former MP said the move could have ensured transparency in mining and created sustainable livelihoods for the region’s youth, but Naveen “never took it seriously.”

BJD Responds To Allegations

Reacting to the charges, BJD legislator Abhimanyu Sethi dismissed Satpathy’s claim, stating that no such proposal had ever been officially submitted through Keonjhar’s elected representatives.

“If any such discussion is to be examined, details will be clear only through proper records,” Sethi said.

The party maintained that Satpathy’s remarks were politically motivated, coming at a time when the BJD is grappling with questions about its internal unity and leadership direction.

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Part Of Broader Criticism Of Naveen

This is not the first time Satpathy has publicly criticised his former party chief. Earlier in January, the ex-MP had penned an editorial squarely blaming Naveen Patnaik for the BJD’s 2024 electoral defeat.

He argued that Naveen had taken Odia voters for granted, sidelined founding leaders like Pyarimohan Mohapatra, and allowed vested interests to dominate the party.

In that piece, Satpathy also praised the newly formed BJP government under CM Mohan Majhi for its “pro-people initiatives,” while questioning the relevance of Naveen’s political moves post-defeat.