Mayurbhanj Collector, SP Trigger Controversy By Wearing T-Shirts With CM’s Logo

Bhubaneswar: An alleged photograph of Mayurbhanj Collector Vineet Bharadwaj, wearing a T-shirt with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's insignia, during a function in Odisha's Baripada has sparked a row amid the Opposition's charge that the state bureaucracy is siding with the ruling BJD.

The Collector and SP B Gangadhar were reportedly seen wearing the T-shirts at a Mayurbhanj Special Development Council mini-marathon.

Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, a former IAS officer who has been critical of the state government for allowing a bureaucracy to make decisions, fiercely condemned the Mayurbhanj collector for wearing such a T-shirt. "It's both unfortunate and ridiculous!" Mayurbhanj Collector, Odisha! To this extent, official standards have degenerated. "These officials must understand that the season is never the same," she commented on X.

Later, in a press conference, BJP vice president Lekhasri Samantsinghar slammed the Mayurbhanj Collector and SP for wearing BJD T-shirts with the CM's insignia. "This demonstrates a disregard for constitutional values." The collector must be aware that expressing allegiance to any one party is against the conduct standards. The Constitution establishes a clear division of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches," she explained.

According to the BJP leader, the officers are conveying the incorrect message to society, particularly to the youth who look up to them as role models. "I'd like to tell Vineet Bharadwaj that he has a long career ahead of him and that the BJD's continued power is not guaranteed." As a result, he should focus on his work rather than on socializing. "I also hope he realizes he made a huge mistake by wearing that T-shirt," she added.

Lekhasri added that by involving government officials in such activities, the BJD has also indicated that it no longer trusts its party workers. 

In his defence, the collector told the media that it was a government event.

Notably, Aparajita too had earlier accused the ruling BJD of engaging government officials in party programmes. She tweeted about a government official addressing a Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) meeting and also shared a video of master book keepers of Self Help Groups (SHG) taking oath to ‘obey’ a BJD MLA.

Last month, she raised the use of helicopter by 5T secretary V K Pandian, a 2000-batch IAS officer, to travel 30 km to 40 km from the state capital. She also disapproved of officers taking on the mantle of an elected representative. “The MPs and MLAs are not visible and the Chief Minister is under house arrest,” she had alleged, stepping up her attack on the ruling dispensation.

On June 28, she along with BJP Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal had lodged a complaint with the DoPT against the Odisha cadre officer whom they accused of clearly violating the Conduct Rules for the All India Service (AIS) personnel by conducting public meetings and announcing new government schemes.

The saffron party also alleged that the ministers, MLAs and MPs of ruling BJD have accepted the slavery of the bureaucrat.