Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s office a retired officers club: BJP; BJD points to PMO

BHUBANESWAR: Leader of opposition Jayanarayan Mishra on Friday termed the chief minister’s office as a retired officers’ club pointing out too many retirees have been rehabilitated in the CMO.
Raising the matter during zero hour in the assembly, the BJP legislator said while qualified youths were looking for jobs, the reasons for giving extensions to too many officers is strange.
Jayanarayan said the CMO has strangely become a place for recreation of the retirees. Officers who worked under the CM are his advisers, said the four-time MLA and a former minister.
Jayanarayan questioned if rehabilitation of retired officers is the principles followed under ‘Mo Sarkar’ and 5T, the much-talked about feedback-based governance models.
Ruling BJD MLA Arun Sahoo said the leader of opposition’s remarks are strange. Stating that there is no harm in appointment of retired officers, Sahoo said even the Prime Minister’s Office has appointed retired officers. The BJP MLA should find out the number of retired officers employed in BJP-governed states.
While around five retired OAS officers are working on extension in the CMO, the CM has two retired IAS officers as his advisers.