BJP leaders in the State seem to be embarrassed by party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi blessing BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik for a fifth consecutive term as Chief Minister.
The embarrassment is all the more pronounced in view of the BJP State leaders almost daily claiming, following party national president Amit Shah’s assertive prediction last year, that the saffron party will bag 120+ seats in the 147-member State Assembly in the next elections.
“I am deeply touched with the simplicity and effective manner with which Naveenbabu has gone about his work for close to two decades and sincerely pray to God Almighty that he continues doing so for yet another well-deserved and well-earned term,” Dr Joshi said while felicitating Patnaik at the ceremony of awarding the “Ideal Chief Minister Award to him in Pune on Sunday.
Joshi said Naveen Patnaik has inherited his father Biju Patnaik’s political acumen and deep concern for wellbeing of the common man.