A delegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers from the Hinjili constituency in Ganjam district on Friday raised serious concerns about alleged government neglect in their area during a meeting with former chief minister and party president Naveen Patnaik.
Delegation Highlights Key Issues in Hinjili
The meeting took place at Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar. The party workers presented a grim picture of the current situation in the town, which is also the legislative assembly constituency represented by Naveen Patnaik himself. They brought forth two major grievances affecting the local populace.
The first major complaint centered on healthcare. The delegation pointed out that despite having infrastructure in place, the sub-divisional hospital in Hinjili is failing to provide proper treatment to residents. This failure is attributed to a critical shortage of doctors and supporting medical staff, rendering the available facilities ineffective.
The second critical issue involved welfare schemes. The BJD workers alleged that the state government has unjustly stopped the distribution of rations and pensions to several beneficiaries who are fully eligible to receive these benefits. This has caused significant distress among the vulnerable sections of the society in the constituency.
Naveen's Assurance and BJP's Sharp Rebuttal
Expressing his concern over the matters presented, Naveen Patnaik advised the delegation to remain steadfast in their efforts towards the town's development. The former chief minister also gave an assurance that he would take up these pressing issues directly with the district administration for prompt resolution.
However, the allegations were swiftly dismissed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Saroj Sabat, the BJP's Ganjam district president, categorically stated that the claims are baseless. He asserted that development work is continuously progressing across the district without any partisan approach towards any particular constituency.
Echoing this sentiment, Kanhu Charan Pati, a national executive member of the BJP, challenged Naveen Patnaik. He suggested that the BJD president should personally visit his own constituency to assess the ground reality, implying that the situation is not as portrayed by the party workers.
Political Tensions Rise in Ganjam
This incident has sparked a fresh political controversy in Ganjam district. The direct allegations of administrative apathy in the sitting MLA's own constituency, coupled with the strong denial from the ruling BJP, point towards escalating tensions between the two major political parties in Odisha. The focus is now on whether the district administration will act on the issues raised and how this exchange will influence the local political narrative moving forward.
