Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's choice of candidates for Rajya Sabha, has left a trail of broken promises after senior BJD leaders Prasanna Patsani and Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik were snubbed by the party supremo.

After Naveen had fielded Arup Patnaik from Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency, which was earlier represented by Patsani, he had reportedly promised a Rajya Sabha berth for the five-time MP and the four time-MLA.

But apparently, after Arup Patnaik’s defeat, the decision to name Patsani as a Rajya Sabha candidate was changed.

“Expectation was definitely there, but where there's expectation, there's disappointment as well. CM may give me a better position in the future,” Patsani said.

Similarly, CM Naveen had announced that he will field Chyau Patnaik as Rajya Sabha candidate for the party. It is being said that to stop Chyau Patnaik from involving in any anti-party activities during polls, such an announcement was made.

“I was expecting a call, but I did not receive any. CM will take the right decision in future,” said Chyau Patnaik.

When asked, BJD leaders couldn’t give a proper answer on why the Chief Minister retracted from his promises.

“I am less concerned with that, it was CM’s decision, who am I to comment?” BJD MP Chandrasekhar Sahu said.

Minister Samir Dash said, “I can’t say about what promise was made to which candidate, but the names announced by CM are final.”

On the other hand, political experts have said that such assurances were given to stop intra-party revolt during polls.

“Before elections, Naveen babu had given assurances to suppress possible revolt, but as there was no such thing, he retracted,” senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said.

scrollToTop