Ending the speculation surrounding his health, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik confirmed on Thursday that he is in good health and emphasized that he has been actively campaigning for the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections for the past month. In an interview with ANI, the BJD leader criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing up his health during election rallies, accusing him of merely seeking votes.
Patnaik mentioned that rumors about his health have been circulating for a decade and suggested that PM Modi could have contacted him directly if he was genuinely concerned. Patnaik, who is aiming for a sixth term as Chief Minister of Odisha, expressed his disappointment with PM Modi’s actions, stating that if the Prime Minister truly cared about his health, he could have easily reached out to him privately instead of making public statements. The BJD chief dismissed the rumors about his health, asserting that he is in good health.
Patnaik’s comments were made amidst concerns raised by several BJP leaders regarding the declining health of the Odisha Chief Minister during the election season.
During his campaign in Odisha on Wednesday, PM Modi mentioned in three consecutive election rallies that Patnaik was not fit to carry out his regular responsibilities.
The Prime Minister also stated that if the BJP were to come into power in the state, a special committee would be established to investigate the cause of the sudden decline in Patnaik’s health.
PM Modi also suggested the possibility of a conspiracy behind the deteriorating health of the BJD leader. In an indirect criticism of BJD leader VK Pandian, PM Modi questioned whether a “lobby” controlling the Odisha government on behalf of Patnaik was responsible for his health issues.
A video that circulated on Tuesday showed VK Pandian holding Patnaik’s shaking hand during a rally and attempting to conceal it from the public eye. The BJP promptly criticized Pandian, interpreting the act as a symbol of his power ambitions.
The following day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared another video allegedly depicting the former IAS officer “manipulating” the movements of the Odisha Chief Minister.