Bhubaneswar, March 18 (IANS) Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik Tuesday accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of "rank opportunism" and of turning Odisha politics into a "theatre of the absurd".
Niranjan who is a former president of the state unit of the Congress said the ruling party, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is looking for ways to poach from other parties just to weaken the opposition and somehow win the election.
"In a democracy, opposition represents an ideological divide and a set of alternative agenda," Niranjan said.
Accusing the chief minister of attempting to create a smoke screen around his party's failure and divert public attention from important political issues, the Congress leader said he hoped people would reject the kind of politics being played in the state.
He said Odisha has become the most backward state in the country after 14 years of BJD rule and despite huge central assistance in the last decade.
"BJD is trying to create a situation as if there are no issues, no ideological divide and election is about rank opportunism," he said, referring to the entrance of several leaders of other parties in the BJD.
"Naveen 'babu' wants to appear to be acceptable as a leader to everybody. This cannot be good for democracy, nor is there any statesmanship evident in what is going on," said Niranjan.
"Odisha deserves better politics than this. After 14 years in politics, BJD is unable to find winning candidates in many areas and is therefore poaching for leaders from other parties," he said.
"This cannot be construed as either good or an indicator of success. What Naveen 'babu' has done is not based on any 'principle' or 'ideology'. This is just Machiavellian power play," he said.
The senior Congress leader also expressed his sadness that the opposition failed to sort out internal issues despite his repeated and timely advice and created an impression of abject capitulation to BJD's opportunist brand of politics.
After Priyanka, Akhilesh Yadav is also in custody, after the Lakhimpur violence, the politics of the opposition intensifies
Politics has now heated up in the Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri after eight people were killed in violence that erupted after farmers' riots on Sunday. Some leaders of the opposition party
Tahawwur Rana: Rana had helped Headley in getting an Indian visa, he had come to India before the Mumbai attack
Mumbai terror attack conspirator Tahawwur Rana had helped co-conspirator David Komlan Headley to get an Indian visa. Headley had come here and conducted a recce before the Mumbai attack. A Mumbai
Delhi CM Oath Ceremony: Atishi's swearing-in ceremony on September 21, other ministers will also take oath along with her
Atishi will take oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on September 21. Other ministers will also take oath with her. Arvind Kejriwal had submitted his resignation to the LG on Tuesday evening and
Covid 19 Deaths: Health Ministry refutes media report, 30 lakh deaths were claimed in first two corona waves
The Health Ministry has denied media reports showing a low number of deaths from COVID-19 in the first two waves in India. The ministry has termed it as erroneous and ill-intentioned information. Also
Mayawati bares her prime ministerial ambitions
Agra, April 18 (IANS) A day after Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said he would stake claim for the prime minister’s post, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati Friday
Kangana vs BMC Case: Kangana's case of breaking bungalow, Bombay High Court said - Target due to tweets and statements
Mumbai: Today, the Bombay High Court has given its verdict on the demolition of the Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut's Manikarnika bungalow at Bandra Pali Hill. The Bombay High Court, while delivering
US Could Be Next Virus Epicentre, India Locks Down, Recession Looms
जिनेवा / नई दिल्ली: संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका कोरोनोवायरस महामारी का वैश्विक
IND vs SA: Suryakumar's fourth century in T20, equals Rohit-Maxwell; India's D. Greatest victory over Africa
After man-of-the-match captain Suryakumar Yadav's century, with the help of Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav's brilliant spin, India defeated South Africa by 106 runs in the third and final T20 match and
Fertilizer companies of the country came forward in a crisis, will supply 50 metric tons of oxygen daily for patients
Many states are facing a lack of oxygen following a spike in coronavirus cases. At the same time, the fertilizer companies of the country have taken up the front to meet the lack of oxygen. The
A new pattern of crime in the country: Only accused and victim are different in Udaipur, Amaravati, and Mangaluru, 12 things common in all three murders
How the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) city president Praveen Nettaru (32) was murdered in Mangaluru's Bellare on July 26, again proved that the perpetrators of such incidents are following the
