TNI Bureau: Digapahandi MLA Siddhant Mohapatra, who switched political allegiance just ahead of the 2024 elections after securing two Lok Sabha terms on a Biju Janata Dal ticket under the patronage of Naveen Patnaik, now finds himself under intense scrutiny. He has sought to blame the previous regime and former leadership over alleged design flaws in the Haldiapadar Overbridge.

However, critics point out an inconvenient truth: Mohapatra himself was the Lok Sabha MP from Berhampur when the bridge was designed and constructed. Despite working closely with the then ruling establishment and officials, he never publicly raised concerns at the time.

His recent statements, widely seen as an attempt to establish relevance in his new political camp, have drawn sharp reactions. Political observers and residents alike argue that accountability cannot be selective, and that Mohapatra must share responsibility for a controversy rooted in decisions made during his own tenure.