Bhubaneswar: A missing poster of former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has been put up at the Hinjili bus stand in Ganjam district, triggering a political war of words between the ruling BJP and opposition BJD.
The poster has triggered speculation that it was put up over Patnaik’s absence from his Hinjili Assembly constituency amid the cyclone-induced crisis. However, the identity of those behind the poster and the motive behind it remain unclear.
Reacting to the development, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal questioned why Patnaik, who represented Hinjili and served as Chief Minister for 24 years, had not visited his constituency during the crisis.
“If the people of Hinjili searched for their MLA during difficult times and, not finding him, put up a missing poster, where is the mistake in that?” Biswal asked.
He recalled that Patnaik, during his tenure as Chief Minister, used to visit flood-affected areas by helicopter and questioned why he was now reluctant to visit his own constituency.
The BJD hit back at the BJP, accusing its leaders of politicising the disaster situation.
Yuva BJD president Chinmay Sahu said that while Patnaik was in power, opposition leaders did not question his presence but focused on his efforts to save people during disasters.
He said the situation in Ganjam and Gajapati districts remained serious, with extensive damage reported due to the cyclone.
“Even if Naveen Babu himself did not visit, he had deputed senior party leaders. We have visited villages, collected ground reports and submitted them to Naveen Babu. He is also in touch with the district administration,” Sahu said.
The poster has added a political dimension to the ongoing post-cyclone situation in Ganjam district, with the BJP questioning Patnaik’s absence and the BJD defending his response through party leaders and administrative coordination.
