Naveen's Candidacy For Kantabanji Not To Be Impactful: BJP

Bhubaneswar, Apr 17: Senior BJP leader and former State president Samir Mohanty on Wednesday said the candidacy of Naveen Patnaik for Bolangir district's Kantabanji Assembly segment will have the least positive implication (for the BJD) as Patnaik has always betrayed people of western Odisha.

"He (CM Naveen Patnaik) couldn't facilitate the establishment of a high court bench in western Odisha. Despite his promise during the by-poll, Padampur has not been declared a district yet. Cement and sugar mills have been shut down in Bargarh. Farmers have suffered a lot due to Katni Chhatni (Unwanted deduction in weight) of paddy. The people of western Odisha will not be biased this time. They will give a befitting reply to the BJD this time," Mohanty contended.

Stating that the Chief Minister has the right to fight elections from all seats, the senior BJP leader said he should fight from one seat if he has the self-confidence.

"After the last election, CM quit the Bijepur seat and retained his old Hinjli seat. During by-polls, he always promises to take care of the concerned constituency. But all know what happens aftermath," he criticized.