Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Kartik Pandian has stirred the political landscape by declaring his intention to retire from politics if Naveen Patnaik isn’t sworn in as Chief Minister for the sixth term with three-fourths majority on June 9. This bold statement came during a massive public gathering in Brajrajnagar, Jharsuguda district, where Pandian addressed the crowd and issued an open challenge to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Challenging Pradhan’s stance, Pandian questioned whether the Union Minister would retire from politics if the BJP fails to ascend to power in Odisha post-elections. The BJD stalwart criticized Pradhan’s electoral track record, highlighting his inability to secure victories even at the grassroots level while ambitiously vying for the state’s leadership.
“Declare your Chief Ministerial candidate and gauge your party’s electoral prowess,” Pandian challenged Pradhan, asserting that the BJP’s internal dynamics indicate a lack of confidence in their own minister. He further accused Pradhan of attempting to mislead the people of Sambalpur and criticized his tenure for failing to address critical issues such as the national highway conundrum.
Refuting personal attacks against himself, Pandian drew a line when it came to disrespect towards Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, emphasizing his staunch allegiance to the party leader. He warned against any form of disrespect towards the Chief Minister, indicating zero tolerance for such behavior.
Amidst the electoral fervor, Pandian intensified his campaign efforts in Jharsuguda and Brajrajnagar under the Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency, rallying support for the party’s candidates. He rallied behind MP candidate Parinita Mishra, Jharsuguda MLA candidate Dipali Das, and Brajrajnagar assembly candidate Alaka Mohanty, urging the electorate to bolster their candidatures.