Odisha: BJD-BJP Clash Over CM Secretary's Ganjam Visit

Bhubaneswar: Opposition parties in Odisha on Sunday intensified their protest against Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s private secretary VK Pandian’s visit to various places across the state in the pretext of listening to the grievances of people.

In Ganjam district’s Digapahandi assembly constituency, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers clashed with ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) activists ahead of Pandian’s arrival at the place.

As per reports, nearly a hundred BJP workers were holding a ‘peaceful protest’ at Punjikaya square opposing Pandian’s visit by showing black flags and raising slogans. During the demonstration, some BJD workers reached the spot and tried to prevent the saffron party workers from staging the protest.

Subsequently, a scuffle broke out between the workers of both parties for nearly 30 minutes in the presence of police. Some protestors were injured in the clash.

The police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to control the situation. As many as 15 BJP workers were detained.

“We were staging a protest against Pandian’s visit to Digapahandi in a democratic way. However, some hooligans of the BJD attacked us. However, the police personnel are supporting BJD workers,” alleged BJP activist.

The BJP workers also staged a protest ahead of Pandian’s Sanakhemundi assembly constituency visit in the district.

Several saffron party workers wore black clothes and shouted slogans against the Odisha government and Pandian in protest against his visit to the area.

The leaders of the opposition parties allege that the CM’s private secretary VK Pandian is canvassing for the ruling BJD in the pretext of listening to the grievances of the people. They also complain that the bureaucrat has reduced the elected people’s representatives – especially the ruling BJD MLAs – into mere party workers sans without any power to serve the people of their constituencies.

“When the elected MLAs are there to listen to the grievances of people, why is VK Pandian, who is a bureaucrat, moving in a helicopter spending crores of rupees? It seems that he has a political motive. This is a clear violation of All India Service Conduct Rules,” said BJP state vice president Biranchi Tripathy.