TNI Bureau: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp political attack on former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his visit to Odisha, intensifying the political debate in the state.

Shah’s remarks came in the backdrop of the recent political understanding between the Biju Janata Dal and the Indian National Congress for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in India. The development has triggered fresh political alignments and drawn sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Addressing public gatherings, Shah questioned the ideological basis of the BJD’s cooperation with Congress, suggesting that the move exposed the political contradictions of the regional party. He accused the previous government led by Patnaik of failing to fully utilise opportunities provided by the Centre for the development of the state.

Shah asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre had consistently prioritised Odisha through infrastructure development, welfare initiatives and financial assistance. However, he alleged that the benefits did not effectively reach the people during the earlier BJD regime.

The Union Minister’s comments clearly signal the BJP’s attempt to frame the emerging BJD-Congress understanding as a politically opportunistic alliance. With the Rajya Sabha contest turning into a high-stakes battle, the sharp exchange of words indicates that the political temperature in Odisha is set to rise further in the days ahead.