Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra has thanked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for blessing his son Arabinda Mohapatra who joined the BJD on Thursday.
“Chief Minister has blessed my son. It is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with it. I thank the Chief Minister for that. We had a special relationship,” informed Mohapatra to reporters here today in his reactions over his son being blessed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Asked whether his son had conveyed the Chief Minister’s message to him Mohapatra answered in the affirmative.
Mohapatra pointed out that his son had been moving around in the constituency visiting gram panchayats and the block maintaining contact with the people over the last two years.
“He won’t face any problems. People have accepted him. Since he has joined, naturally he will fight,” said the senior BJP leader.
To a query from reporters, whether he has launched his heir into politics, the BJP leader said, “No”.
“Alliance and different things are being discussed and worked out. The picture will be clear after 5-7 days. So let’s wait,” said Mohapatra to a query from reporters on whether he would campaign for his son.
The senior BJP leader said that the upcoming elections will be a decisive one.
“Sons, daughters, daughters-in-law and relatives of political leaders are getting elected. This is a countrywide trend. All political parties are forced to give way to the younger generation and it is happening across the country.”
For those who are unversed, Arabinda Mohapatra, son of Bijoy Mohapatra who was regarded as a long-time bête noire of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal on Thursday.
Arabinda, who worked in a big technology company, was formally inducted into the BJD in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the latter’s residence.
“Arabinda babu, we welcome you to party. Work hard for the district of Kendrapara. You have my blessings and please thank your father also,” Patnaik had told Arabinda at his induction into the BJD on Thursday.
