Odisha: Pradhan counters Patnaik’s critique of BJP amid rising tensions
Bhubaneswar: In the wake of former Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik’s scathing critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday responded with a veiled rebuttal, suggesting that the “frustration of losing power” is driving the BJD’s sharp rhetoric.
Patnaik, just three days earlier, had accused the BJP of misleading voters in Odisha to secure electoral victories, calling their rise to power a result of “deceit.” He also criticised the BJP-led government for renaming key welfare schemes initiated under his administration, such as the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), and accused them of failing to deliver on major promises.
“You can change names and colors, but you cannot change history,” Patnaik remarked during his speech.
In what appeared to be an indirect response, Pradhan emphasised that both victory and defeat are natural outcomes in politics, cautioning against letting the results define a leader's attitude.
“Defeat and victory are inherent aspects of electoral processes. However, some leaders struggle to accept defeat,” Pradhan stated, seen as a clear reference to Patnaik's remarks. He urged political maturity in handling losses and warned against the dangers of lingering frustrations.
Pradhan also encouraged BJP workers to remain focused on serving the people of Odisha.
“Some people once called the BJP a ‘signboard’ party. Today, we have the opportunity and responsibility to serve the people, and we must work to fulfill their expectations," he said, motivating party members to continue their efforts at governance.
Other BJP leaders in Odisha also joined in the response to Patnaik’s criticism. Odisha BJP vice-president Biranchi Tripathy accused the former CM of corruption and nepotism during his 24-year tenure.
"Naveen Patnaik is yet to come to terms with the BJP's victory. After his party’s defeat, he now appears restless," Tripathy claimed, suggesting that the people of Odisha rejected BJD's 'misgovernance,' leading to the BJP’s rise to power.
