Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shows no fatigue while executing Modi mission in Odisha

Calls upon to send Odisha CM’s close aide Pandia back to Tamil Nadu

By A K Sahoo

Bhubaneswar, May 19: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, one of the BJP’s star campaigners for Odisha polls, shows no fatigue while discharging his responsibilities to accomplish Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission to form a BJP government in the state on June 10, defeating the incumbent BJD government headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. On the contrary, he appears to be getting more spirited after every outing on the campaign trail.

Sarma has already addressed a dozen public meetings in the state and his power-packed speech has always got him huge rounds of applause and appreciation from party workers and followers. What is more interesting is that his Hindi speech with Bengali accent immediately connects him with masses as many Odias also speak the language in similar fashion.

The Assam CM has been too acerbic on V Karthikeyan Pandian, the close aide of his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik.

Pandian, an IAS officer hailing from Tamil Nadu, was Naveen’s private secretary. A few months ago, he quit his IAS job and joined the ruling BJD. At present, he is considered as the number two person in the BJD set up and seen as Naveen’s successor.

The BJP leaders, realising that there is palpable opposition from majority of the Odias to Pandian’s rise in the BJD and his overt bid to capture power in the state, the saffron party has been attacking him. Biswa Sarma has been at the forefront of the attack on Pandian.

In all his poll rallies, Biswa Sarma is seen giving a call to people to send Pandian back to Tamil Nadu to uphold Odia Asmita (Odia pride).

In a recent public meeting held at Satyabadi in Puri district, Sarma urged the people to collect funds in the form of Re 1 and Rs 2 for buying a plane ticket to send the BJD leader to Tamil Nadu after the polls.

In X post, the Assam CM shared a video of his speech in which he can also be heard appealing to people to protect the Odia pride.

“After the elections, I appeal to people to collect funds to buy a plane ticket to send Pandian to Tamil Nadu on June 11 with respect. This is necessary to protect the pride of Odisha,” said Sarma while addressing a public meeting.

Right from PM Narendra Modi and other central and state leaders have exuded confidence in forming the government in Odisha for the first time. The PM has gone on record saying that a BJP government will take oath in Odisha on June 10.

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Photograph: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma addressing poll rally in Odisha