Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised on Wednesday that if the BJP formed the government in Odisha, it would form a committee to investigate the "sudden" deterioration of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's health, implying a "conspiracy" behind it. Modi claimed that after a five-decade gap, a full majority government would be formed at the Centre for the third time in a row.
Addressing election rallies in Odisha's Mayurbhanj and Balasore Lok Sabha seats, he stated, "Naveen babu's supporters are concerned about his deteriorating health." It has gotten worse over the last year. Is this a conspiracy? Is the lobby that is currently running Patnaik's government on his behalf responsible for it?"
"If the BJP forms the government in Odisha after the ongoing assembly elections, it would constitute a committee to ascertain the reason behind the deterioration of Patnaik's health," Modi said.
"The mystery behind Naveen babu's deteriorating health condition should be revealed as the people of the state have the right to know the reason," the PM said.
In an apparent reference to BJD leader V K Pandian, who hails from Tamil Nadu and is considered close to Patnaik, said, "Entire Odisha wants an Odia chief minister. The people of Odisha have decided to put a full stop to the 25-year rule of the BJD in the state."
Modi asserted that under his rule, India's economy rose from the 11th position to the fifth in the last 10 years.
"Ten years ago, nobody thought terrorism could be stopped in India but we have shown it by protecting our major cities from blasts. No one thought peace would return to Jammu and Kashmir but people there are now celebrating Republic Day and voting in large numbers," he said.
Modi asserted that India's missile prowess has exponentially increased in the last 10 years and the country is now exporting BrahMos missiles to other countries and "Chandrayaan has reached a place where no country has ever reached".
Attacking the BJD government, he said, "Wherever you step in Odisha, there is natural wealth but the state remains poor because it was first looted by the Congress and then by the BJD for the last 25 years."
"People of Odisha know that voting for BJD would mean wasting their vote. They don't trust it anymore... you gave 25 years to the party, and it deceived you, looted you and kept you underdeveloped," he added.
Modi asserted that the BJP-led government at the Centre is working for the welfare of tribals and his government declared the birthday of Birsa Munda as 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas'.
The PM's remark on Patnaik's health condition came a day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that Pandian was controlling even the hand movements of the Odisha CM.
Sharing a video showing Patnaik's hand shaking while delivering a speech at a meeting and Pandian putting it on a table, Sarma said in a post on X, "This is a deeply distressing video. Shri V K Pandian ji is even controlling the hand movements of Shri Naveen babu."
Pandian was born in Tamil Nadu, studied in Delhi and started his career as a Punjab cadre IAS officer, but shifted to Odisha cadre after marrying an Odia woman. The BJP has been calling him an "outsider" in Odisha's politics.
In response to Sarma's comment, Patnaik in a video message had said, "I believe the BJP which is known to make non-issues into issues, are discussing my hands. This will certainly not work."
Patnaik had also accused BJP leaders of spreading lies about his health.
"There is a limit to the lies that the BJP can spread. As you can see, I am in very good health, and I have been campaigning for around a month all over the state," Patnaik had said in a statement.
