Odisha Congress in-charge Ajoy Kumar expressed his displeasure with the way former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik’s picture is nowhere seen in the posters put by the ruling Biju Janata Party (BJD) in the state.
At a presser in Bhubaneswar, Kumar said that Biju Babu’s poster is now missing after ex-IAS officer VK Pandian came into the picture. The Congress’ Odisha-in-charge further said that he has travelled some 1000 km within the state and he came across such a situation.
“Biju Babu Jauchi, Pandian Ji Asuschi’. When VK Pandian came into the picture, Biju Patnaik's picture has gone missing. After some time, Naveen Patnaik’s poster will also go missing,” said Kumar.
According to Kumar, Biju Babu was one of the greatest sons of Odisha and he had an opportunity to meet him once during an opposition rally in Patna.
“If Biju Babu’s photo is removed from the poster, where is the pride of Odisha? Odisha is for the Odias. We are political opponents, but we still salute Biju Babu. If Biju Babu’s photo is removed, it hurts us,” said Kumar.
The Odisha Congress-in-charge further said that the people of Odisha should not accept that an ex-IAS officer has removed Biju Babu’s photograph.
“For Congress, the pride of Odisha and Odias is important. We want to tell VK Pandian that we cannot put up Biju Babu's poster in the social function of our party but we always respect Biju Babu. It hurts that BJD has started using such posters,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BJD leaders could not be contacted over the statement of Congress’ Odisha-in-charge Ajoy Kumar.