Bijay Patnaik hits at BJD after joining Congress

Bhubaneswar: Former Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik, a close aide to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, lashed out at the BJD government after joining Congress, alleging poor governance and rampant corruption during its rule.

Apart from misrule and widespread corruption, Odisha has seen an alarming increase in violence under the BJD government, according to the retired IAS officer who joined Congress at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Friday.

The 1976-batch IAS officer, who served as Naveen's Principal Secretary from 2004 to 2010 and as the state's Chief Secretary from 2010 to 2013, said he joined Congress to work for a change in the situation.

Patnaik reportedly claimed that the common people in the state feel helpless and do not know whom to approach when they face a problem because the administration does not appear to be on their side.

Even people's representatives, such as Ministers, MPs, and MLAs, are unable to assist the public, and efforts should be made to effect change and're-establish' democracy, he said.

Patnaik claimed in a scathing attack on the BJD that the ruling party is now only concerned with getting votes and winning elections rather than serving people.

He claimed that the administration had failed to reach out to the general public and that the situation needed to change. The ex-bureaucrat stated that he will try to change the situation and make it more people-oriented.

Patnaik said he liked Congress because of its liberal approach and commitment to the poor. He was impressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent Bharat Jodo Yatra, which emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence.

Patnaik said it is entirely up to the Congress leadership to decide whether or not to run in elections.