BJD Women Leaders Slam BJP Candidate’s Remarks Against Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, Nov 5 : Women leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Nuapada by-election candidate Jay Dholakia and his mother Kalpana Bhaunji for allegedly making false and disrespectful remarks against Former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, senior BJD women leaders described the comments as “shameful, baseless and politically motivated.” They said Naveen Patnaik is revered by the people of Odisha as a “father figure” who treats all 4.5 crore Odias as his family.

“Blinded by its lust for power, the BJP has stooped to a new low, something we never imagined,” the leaders said. “This is extremely unfortunate and deserves the strongest condemnation.”

Former minister Tukuni Sahu, MLA Barsha Singh Bariha, and former MLAs Dipali Das and Alka Mohanty were among those who condemned the BJP candidate’s remarks.

Tukuni Sahu termed the allegations made by the family of late minister Rajendra Dholakia — that Naveen Patnaik and the BJD neglected him — as “completely false and deplorable.”
“Raju Bhai was a loyal BJD leader for 24 years and was given ministerial posts and key responsibilities. Even after his illness and death, neither Naveen Babu nor the BJD abandoned his family,” Sahu said.

She added that it was Naveen Patnaik himself who had initially proposed Jay Dholakia’s name for the Nuapada by-election. “But Jay went to Delhi and sold himself out. Before pointing fingers at Naveen Babu, his mother should answer for her son’s betrayal,” she remarked.

BJD MLA Barsha Singh Bariha said the Chief Minister’s campaign in Nuapada had greatly boosted the party’s support base. “The BJP is rattled by the overwhelming response Naveen Babu is receiving. In desperation, they have forced Raju Bhai’s family to make false statements. The people of Nuapada will never tolerate such cheap politics,” she said.

Former MLA Dipali Das accused Jay Dholakia and his family of betraying the BJD. “Naveen Babu shared a close bond with Raju Bhai and stood by the Dholakia family during his illness and even attended Jay’s wedding,” she noted.

Echoing similar sentiments, former MLA Alka Mohanty said Naveen Patnaik has always been a pillar of support for BJD leaders and their families. “He has always stood by me, encouraged me, and helped me grow as an MLA. He never allows injustice and never disappoints anyone. No one will believe such false accusations against a person like him,” she stated.

The BJD women leaders urged the BJP to refrain from personal attacks and maintain the dignity of political discourse ahead of the Nuapada by-election.