BJP MP challenges Patnaik for debate over her contribution to development of Bhubaneswar

Naveen Patnaik. File pic

Aparajita Sarangi, a BJP MP running for re-election from the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat, challenged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to a discussion on her role in the growth of the state capital of Odisha on Tuesday. In response to a recent video statement released by Patnaik, Sarangi made this comment while urging support for BJD candidate Manmath Routray in Bhubaneswar.

Per a PTI report, Without revealing her identity, the chief minister said in the film that she had tried to halt the Lingaraj temple renovation project and the Ekamra Heritage Project. In addition, the BJD chief asserted that she had accomplished nothing noteworthy in her five years in office. Reacting to Patnaik's remarks, Sarangi said she was shocked to see a "respectable chief minister of 24 years targeting a first-time MP without verifying the facts".

The MP said she has been sending her "performance report" to Patnaik every year. "The chief minister must not have seen those reports as those were blocked by the coteries around him. He just read out what was written by the coteries," alleged Sarangi.

"I have never objected to the heritage project. Rather, work has been done with a lot of funds from the ASI. The allegation is baseless" I must ask whether he has any evidence, written or oral, regarding his statements that I tried to stall the Lingaraj temple work?" she said. The Bhubaneswar MP said Patnaik should come with proof of the allegations made by him for a public debate. "I also invite him for a debate on my contribution to the constituency in the last five years," she added.

(With Inputs from PTI)