Naveen Patnaik Hits out at Baijayant Panda, Ex-BJD Member Responds

Patnaik alleged that Panda led a rumour campaign on his health, which further soured relations between the two.

Naveen Patnaik and Jay Panda.

(Photo: The Quint)

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hit out at former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Baijayant Panda and listed three main reasons for their estrangement, in an interview with ANI.

The first instance where Patnaik said he felt let down by Panda was when he was pursuing the development of railways in Kendrapara. Narrating the incident, Patnaik said a former Railways Minister mocked him for pursuing the development of railways in Kendrapara, while Jay Panda was only concerned about the railways' development for his mining companies. “This shocked me,” Patnaik said.

The second instance, Patnaik said, that further soured relations between the two was a rumour campaign on his health led by Panda. Patnaik’s health has been the subject of intense speculation, particularly in Odisha in recent months. Patnaik alleged that Panda was spreading lies over his deteriorating health for political gain, reported ANI.

“Several phone calls from friends in Delhi concerned about my health after 2014, shocked me,” Patnaik said.

The third instance that further deteriorated the relationship to the point of no return was when Panda wanted to be the Chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee and he sought the support of the BJP, Patnaik said. “I didn't think it was a good idea and didn't support him because of the financial dealings of his company,” Patnaik said, according to ANI.

However, Panda has refuted allegations against his companies and denied any conflict of interest during his time as an MP.

Further, the BJD leader said that while he tried to reach out for rapprochement, the efforts did not fructify due to Panda's political ambitions, anti-party activities and leaning towards the BJP.

‘Patnaik Making Wild, Unsubstantiated Allegations’

Panda on Sunday denied the charges levelled against him, calling them “utter rubbish”.

He (Naveen Patnaik) is making “wild, unsubstantiated allegations," Panda told ANI, adding that Patnaik cries like a “school boy”.

“I am disappointed that Naveen (Patnaik) has reduced himself to this state of making wild, unsubstantiated allegations. Sometimes he cries like a schoolboy. Sometimes he says I am complaining about his health. Sometimes he says I am coveting his chair. In 18 years in the government I have never coveted any post.”

Jay Panda

On Patnaik's remarks that he felt let down by Panda, the Odisha BJP vice president said the people of Kendrapara knew how much he “slogged” to get the railway project on track, and claimed that “these were conspiracy theories planted by a coterie around the Odisha Chief Minister.”

(With inputs from ANI)