Political climate heats up as BJD inaugurates its swanky office building 

The political heat in the state went up by several notches as the state units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress launched a broadside against the BJD over its swanky new office building ‘Sankha Bhawan’, which was inaugurated today. 

BJP leader Pradeep Purohit alleged that the BJD party as well as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is changing their identities.

“It seems to me that the identities of Chief Minister Naveen Babu and his party are gradually changing. This huge party office has done away with the CM’s identity of a simple lifestyle,” said Purohit. 

Senior Congress leader Suresh Routray said, “The money of corporate houses has gone into it. A total of Rs110 crore has been spent on this building. Even no hotel will stand anywhere near to it.”

While taking the side of his party, BJD Vice President Prasanna Acharya said, “When the Opposition doesn’t have any important issue to raise they would raise such baseless issues. There are many issues pertaining to the development of Odisha. I would like to request them to concentrate on those issues.”

Earlier in the day, the BJD’s palatial office building was inaugurated by party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The ‘Sankha Bhawan’, which is a three-storey building with a huge parking space in the basement to house over 40 cars at a time, is located at Unit-6 area of the capital city. The building stands on 1.18 acres of land. The first floor has a huge conch, which is visible from the road.  The first floor also houses an open conference hall and a gallery, informing about the journey of Biju Patnaik. 

There is a 250-seat auditorium on the second floor which is in no way inferior to any cinema hall. This floor has also space for the party’s IT Cell and Research Wing. The top floor houses the party president’s special chamber with conference halls.