Dharmendra Pradhan launches veiled attack on 5T Secretary, says ‘Babus’ have replaced Naveen Patnaik as CM

In a thinly veiled attack on the 5T Secretary, VK Pandian, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the 'Babus' (bureaucrats) are ruling the state. 

While answering the queries of journalists on the sidelines of a programme in Bhubaneswar, Pradhan said there is 'Baburaj' in the state. 

“Are there Ministers in the state? Here the Babus are ruling the state. Today also I found articles in newspapers saying Babus have already replaced the Chief Minister. And influential Ministers are moving around them carrying umbrellas for them,” Pradhan said. 

Even though the Union Minister didn’t take names, it is being discussed that he took the dig at the 5T Secretary, who was on a two-day Kendrapara visit. 

In this regard, no reaction from the state government or the 5T Secretary has been received. 

On April 23, Pradhan during his visit to poll-bound Jharsuguda had also targeted the BJD-led government alleging Baburaj. “A dictatorship government is running in the state. The BJD is not a political party anymore. One or two non-Odia bureaucrats are running the party,” he had said.