Odisha: CM grievance cell used as party office, BJP & Cong train guns at BJD

While a four-storey BJD office is coming up in place of the party’s old office building, the office has virtually been shifted to the Chief Minister’s grievance cell. This has made the Opposition’s hackles rise. 

The grievance cell is meant for the CM to hear people’s problems. But hearing people’s grievances has long been stopped as CM Naveen Patnaik has not been coming to the cell for more than two years. Party meetings are instead being conducted here regularly. This cell has also been used by the party leaders to chalk out strategies. 

Meanwhile, the Opposition BJP and Congress have taken strong exception to BJD over turning CM's grievance cell into its party office. 

“It is unfortunate that they (BJD) have turned the CM’s office into party office. Though their acts are objected, it hardly cut any ice with them. In coming days, people will give a befitting reply to them,” said LoP Jayanarayana Mishra. 

Launching a broadside at the ruling party, senior Congress leader Suresh Routray said, “The purpose of the grievance cell is to hear people’s grievances and address them. Running a party office there is not acceptable. They should have done party works somewhere else.”

Reacting to the allegations, BJD legislator Amar Satapathy said, “The Opposition party’s job is to oppose. So, there is nothing new. BJD believes in people’s strength and our Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is still enjoying it.”

The construction work of the BJD’s party office building is going on in full swing. Two government quarters (V2/1 and V2/2) have been given to the conch party for its office. The office building is being constructed in that space. The CM had laid the foundation stone for it on Rath Yatra.  

It will be a four-storey building with all modern facilities. There will be a conference hall, a special room for the party president, and separate rooms for different organisations. There will also be a facility for press briefings. This apart, lands for district-level party offices have also been identified. 

The BJP is also not behind. To expand its party office, two government quarters (4R2/1 and 4R2/2) have been provided to the saffron party. Soon there will be a party office with all mod cons. 

“In some districts, our party offices are under construction. And the construction of the state’s party office will commence after the rainy season,” said BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan. 

Regarding their party office, OPCC President Sarat Patnaik said, “Since they are in power, they are constructing party offices. But our office will function from the same old premises. But we are going to open our offices in all the blocks. We are ready to take houses on rent to run offices.”