Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi targeted the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress on Thursday, questioning their alleged silence regarding the recent gang rape of an Odia medical student in West Bengal’s Durgapur.
Speaking at the BJP’s ‘Bijay Sankalp Samabesh’ campaign for the November 11 Nuapada by-election, Majhi stated, “What was the role of both BJD and the Congress when a woman from the state was gang raped in West Bengal? Did they hit the streets or criticise Mamata Banerjee’s government? No, both the parties preferred to remain silent. This speaks about their concern for women.”
The CM’s remarks came a day after Opposition BJD’s accusation that the ruling BJP was attempting to gain political mileage from the heinous crime.
The BJP, in a statement, had said, “We strongly condemn the Durgapur incident and BJP’s attempt to take political mileage out of it.”
Launching a scathing attack on Congress, alleging their MLAs paralyse proceedings of the Assembly over women issues.
“The party which creates a lot of noise in the Assembly over women issues, remained silent over the Durgapur incident,” Majhi alleged.
Majhi also targeted BJD president and former CM Naveen Patnaik for his silence over an alleged personal attack on the BJP’s Nuapada candidate, Jay Dholakia, who was reportedly called an ‘adopted son’ of the late MLA Rajendra Dholakia.
Majhi also targeted BJD president and former CM Naveen Patnaik for his silence over an alleged personal attack on the BJP’s Nuapada candidate, Jay Dholakia, who was reportedly called an ‘adopted son’ of the late MLA Rajendra Dholakia.
“Some BJD leaders have made personal comments, calling Jay Dholakia an ‘adopted son’ of late MLA Rajendra Dholakia. We expected Naveen Babu, being a sensitive person, to condemn such remarks. But he has chosen to remain silent,” he said.
Referring to the BJD’s choice of candidate, Snehangini Chhuria, Majhi termed her an “outsider” imported from Attabira in Bargarh district.
“The BJD could not get a candidate from Nuapada district and imported one from Attabira in Bargarh district. Nuapada’s people consider her as an outsider and will reject her,” the CM said.
ମାନନୀୟ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ମୋହନ ଚରଣ ମାଝୀ ନୂଆପଡ଼ା ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଏୟାରଷ୍ଟ୍ରିପ ଗ୍ରାଉଣ୍ଡ ନିକଟରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ବିଜୟ ସଂକଳ୍ପ ସମାବେଶରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି । ଆୟୋଜିତ ଏହି ସମାବେଶରେ ମାନନୀୟ ରାଜ୍ୟ ସଭାପତି ଶ୍ରୀ ମନମୋହନ ସାମଲ, ଉପମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ କନକ ବର୍ଦ୍ଧନ ସିଂ ଦେଓ, ରାଜ୍ୟ ପ୍ରଭାରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ବିଜୟପାଲ ସିଂ ତୋମାର, ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ମଣ୍ଡଳର… pic.twitter.com/kVIM2pd3En
— BJP Odisha (@BJP4Odisha) October 16, 2025
BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra refuted this, stating Chhuria was born nearby in Padmapur, has close ties to Nuapada, and has been the district’s observer for four years.
Expressing confidence in a BJP victory, the Chief Minister cited the party’s strong organisational base and the goodwill of former MP Basant Panda and late MLA Rajendra Dholakia.
He said Jay Dholakia joined BJP believing only a ‘double engine’ government could fulfil his father’s dream of developing Nuapada.
He promised that Nuapada’s development was his “personal responsibility,” claiming the state BJP government had fulfilled most promises in the last 16 months, unlike former CM Patnaik, who allegedly “forgot all the promises” made during previous by-polls.
