After Naveen's 'long speech jibe', Odisha CM says BJD chief waves to people and doesn't speak

A day after Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik's 'long speeches do not make development' jibe, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday claimed that the BJD head read write-ups instead of speaking to the people directly when he was the CM.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

Majhi made the comment while addressing the “State Level Bikas Mela” here being held to mark the completion of his government's one year in office on June 12.

“Yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition ridiculed the BJP government over my long speeches and alleged non-performance. What (Patnaik) were you doing all along? You used to read out written speeches. You had no link with the people. Just waving to people for two minutes and never attending the CM's Grievance Cell for 16 years,” Majhi said.

He also attacked Patnaik over his style of governance and alleged that a handful of officers from the CMO used to attend CM's Grievance Cell and collect petitions from people.

“Those petitions were thrown into the dustbins. What prevented you from meeting people and listening to their grievances? Finally, people rejected your government,” Majhi said.

After ruling the state for 24 years, the BJD was defeated by the BJP in the assembly elections last year.

At a party programme on Tuesday, Patnaik accused the Mohan Charan Majhi dispensation of focusing only on long speeches and publicity, instead of real development.