Pradhan jibe at CM’s address to crowd in Dhamnagar

Bhubaneswar: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday ridiculed chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s address to the people of Dhamnagar on Monday, asking why he was talking about taking responsibility of the constituency now.
Addressing an election rally at Dhusuri to seek votes for BJP candidate Suraj Suryabanshi ahead of Thursday’s bypoll, Pradhan said the chief minister is now promising to complete five years of work in the constituency in 18 months and taking personal responsibility for the assembly seat now. “What was he doing all this while? Or was Dhamnagar punished because it did not elect a BJP MLA in 2019?” Pradhan questioned, saying as an Odia, the chief minister’s statement has been painful for him.
The Union minister also asked why Naveen had to lure voters with such promises after being in power for 22 years.
Seeking votes for BJD candidate Abanti Das, Naveen had through video link said that 18 months are left for the next general and assembly election and that “we can do five years’ work within this time”.
Pradhan said he had written to Naveen in February last year to send a proposal to the Centre for opening a medical college in Bhadrak, but the state government had ignored it. He said Bhadrak district becomes victim of flooding due to the overflowing Baitarani and that the state government has not taken measures to resolve the issue.