Naveen Patnaik forced to campaign despite ill-health: Congress

Following the debacle in the recently concluded Nuapada bypoll, the Opposition BJD seems to be in big trouble with several leaders and party workers openly expressing their dissatisfaction over the election strategy.

In response, senior Congress leader Panchanan Kanungo has alleged that there was a major conspiracy behind bringing Naveen Patnaik into the campaign despite his ill health. 

According to Kanungo, VK Pandian wanted to prove that the party was losing not because of him, but even with Naveen Patnaik at the forefront.

Also Read: Naveen Patnaik’s popularity fading, failing miserably in delivering results? BJD in turmoil after Nuapada blow

"In the last election, Naveen babu didn't visit anywhere and Pandian went everywhere as his second man. The leaders and party workers blamed Pandian for the defeat. I think, Pandian wanted to prove this time that the party was losing not because of him, but even with Naveen Patnaik at the forefront. There is a conspiracy behind it," said Kanungo.

Meanwhile, veteran politician Amar Satpathy stated that Naveen Patnaik himself has lost his popular appeal. He further said that the BJD must accept defeat and conduct an honest self-assessment. He also stated that there is no place for a monopoly in a democratic party, and this election result has made that clear.

"He (Naveen) might have been told to join the election campaign. Despite his bad health and other issues, Naveen agreed to join the election campaign not once but twice. Not others, but he himself put his popularity at stake. Naveen Babu should review what went wrong. People also didn't accept the language he used in the campaign," said Satpathy.

The BJD’s reaction to these statements is yet to be received.