Pradhan takes dig at Odisha CM, says CMO not personal property

Bhubaneswar, Jan 20 : Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday lashed out at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, saying that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is not the “jagir” (personal property) of anyone.

“You are the Chief Minister of Odisha, not of any political party. The CMO at state secretariat is not any party’s ‘jagir’. It is the centre of hopes and aspirations of Odisha’s people,” said Pradhan speaking to reporters at the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office here.

Pradhan said senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Damodar Rout was sacked from the Council of Ministers as he raised questions on soil scam, which has been linked to the third floor (CMO).

“Damodar Rout was sacked as he dared take on the third-floor officer. He being an Agriculture Minister was fired as he raised questions on the soil conservation scam in Rayagada, which was linked to the CMO,” said the Minister.

Pradhan welcomed Odia cinema actors Mihir Das and Anu Choudhury, who joined the BJP.

Besides, Ramaranjan Balirsingh, a former BJD MLA from Satyabadi, joined the BJP along with his supporters from his constituency.

Notably, actor Mihir Das had joined the ruling BJD in 2014 before the General Elections and actively campaigned for the party.

Earlier, several Odisha film actors, including Sritam Das, Pinky Pradhan, Harihar Mohapatra and Ajit Das, have joined the BJP.

IANS