BJP accuses bureaucrat of attempting to manipulate political mandate in Odisha

BJP MP and national spokesperson Aparajita Sarangi has accused a bureaucrat of trying to hijack Odisha’s political mandate, stating that the weakening of the political leadership of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led to such occurrences. Sarangi also questioned whether Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has authorized a secretary-level bureaucrat to announce projects across the state despite the absence of elected officials. The MP has allegedly received photographs and videos of this serving officer moving around the state, addressing public meetings and using the state plane. Sarangi called for an explanation from the Chief Minister about the bureaucrat’s actions and urged disciplinary action against them over conduct rule violations. Other incidents of South Indian corporate groups’ influence in different spheres of Odisha were also addressed, including Techmed Solutions Private Ltd. being entrusted with pathological and radiological testing of district headquarters hospitals across Odisha. Sarangi requested the government share the names of other bidders and the rates offered by them for such tests.