TV
With two Rajya Sabha MPs leaving his party and joining BJP, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik is said to be applying a new strategy to keep the party floating.
He was seen hopping Ganesh puja pandals in three Assembly constituencies in Bhubaneswar. In the Ekamra Assembly constituency, he also did a power show. BJD leaders have uploaded the photos of Naveen’s pandal hopping and power show on the social media handles.
It is being discussed that Naveen who hardly comes to the Assembly has stepped out as a part of his strategy to go nearer to people.
Taking a swipe at Naveen, BJP said he is in fear after the poll debacle.
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“He had the opportunity to go to people, to serve them and understand their problems. But he didn’t do that. Your MLAs and MPs too had to wait for hours to meet you. But today when people have rejected you, you are going to them. It is ridiculous,” said BJP MLA Babu Singh.
Responding to Singh’s statement, senior BJD leader Ashok Panda said, “Let them say whatever they want. But Naveen Patnaik is still in people’s hearts. If he is in fear, how he stood in the crowd.”
While some senior and young leaders are holding Bobby Das and VK Pandian responsible for the party’s drubbing, political analyst Prasanna Mohanty said the party with this new strategy is trying to send out a message that Naveen Patnaik’s popularity is still intact.
“After the poll debacle, leaders are leaving the party one after another. This has terrified Naveen Patnaik. Hopping puja pandals won’t work. There is an urgent need to restructure the the party,” said Mohanty.
