BJP president Amit Shah Sunday asked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to step down, dubbing the BJD government a "fused transformer" which failed to develop the mineral-rich state and pull people out of poverty in 19 years of its rule.
Shah's attack on BJD was in sharp contrast to the BJP central leadership's apparent bid to keep the Naveen Patnaik-led party in good humour after its poll debacle in three Hindi-speaking states.
It was often alleged by parties, including the Congress, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah had adopted a soft approach towards Patnaik in the hope of getting BJD's support after general elections, if necessary.
Shah, however, silenced the critics and accused the BJD government of ignoring the state's development, neglecting tribals and Dalits and refusing to accept the Centre's Ayushman Bharat medical insurance programme which would have helped the poor draw benefits.
The BJP president was addressing the valedictory session of the two-day national convention of BJP's ST Morcha in the seaside pilgrim town of Odisha.
Mounting a frontal attack on the Patnaik government, Shah said, "The BJD government is like a fused transformer. It needs to be replaced for the state's progress."
"Such CMs should be thrown out of power."
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