Naveen accuses BJP of ‘double betrayal’

Bhubaneswar: Days after his ‘betrayer’ and ‘candidate thief’ barbs at the BJP during the campaign ahead of Nuapada byelection, former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Friday fired a fresh salvo by accusing the ruling party of inflicting a “double dhoka” — double betrayal — on the people of the state.BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra hit back, saying, “BJD’s 24-year governance in the state was marked by betrayal and deceit. People of

Odisha

and Nuapada stand with the BJP.”During a rally in Nuapada, Naveen criticised the BJP for allegedly halting the development progress initiated by his govt. He accused BJP of running a govt based on “false propaganda,” stating, “Development does not happen through false promises.

A govt cannot run on lies and hollow promises.”The former chief minister questioned the state govt’s performance over the past 500 days, challenging whether the promises made by the BJP before the 2024 elections—such as 300 units of free electricity, a Rs 3,500 pension, affordable fertiliser for farmers, a halt to the reduction of MSP on paddy, jobs for youth, and loans for Mission Shakti women—were fulfilled.“What did you get? Only betrayal, betrayal, and double betrayal,” he said.

This follows Naveen’s Nov 3 accusations of “betrayal” against BJP for allegedly poaching their potential candidate, Jay Dholakia, son of the late BJD Nuapada MLA Rajendra Dholakia, and making him their nominee.BJP MP Sambit Patra criticised Naveen, stating that his remarks, such as ‘beimani’ (dishonesty) and ‘candidate chori’ (candidate theft), have deeply hurt the sentiments of the Dholakia family and people of the state. “The BJD was insensitive towards Rajendra Dholakia during his illness. He was not given due respect by the BJD,” Patra said.