Naveen Patnaik is held Hostage by Pandian: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Sambalpur: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said Odisha CM and BJD president Naveen Patnaik is held hostage by his close aide — V Karthikeyan Pandian, and he was not in a position to speak anything on his own without reading out what Pandian gave to him by Pandian.
“There is no doubt that the Odisha CM has been held hostage by Pandian. Whatever written papers he (Pandian) supplies, he just reads it out. Just allow some senior citizens and intellectuals to meet him alone for 10 minutes to enquire about his health. He will just begin to cry,” said Sarma.
The Assam CM is one of the 30-star campaigners declared for Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Odisha.
He added that Naveen Patnaik is the only CM in the country who cannot speak to others all alone.
“Naveen Patnaik is the only person who cannot speak to people alone. Even other opposition CMs like Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi and Bhagwan Singh Mann Punjab can speak to people without anyone standing by them,” he said.
Accusing Pandian of taking control of all resources of Odisha, Sarma said the BJP would release all this wealth from him after coming to power in the state.
“In fact, VK Pandian is the de facto CM here and he makes Naveen Babu sign documents. There will be no BJD after the election results as those having self-respect will join the BJP. Those who care for Odia Asmita will not stay in BJD and they will join the BJP. The BJD will be dismantled once the BJD MLAs and ministers are defeated in the polls. We want to remove Pandian and make an Odia CM in the state, said the Assam CM.
There was, however, no reaction from the state to Mr Sarma’s observation.