A political storm has been stirred in Odisha following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting in Kandhamal. The Prime Minister, in a direct challenge to the state’s Chief Minister, ‘Naveen Babu’, questioned his knowledge of the state he has been governing for a significant period.
In his address, PM Modi said, “I want to challenge ‘Naveen Babu’. He has been the CM for such a long time, I ask him to name the districts of Odisha and their respective capitals without referring to a paper.”
The Prime Minister’s challenge was met with a strong reaction from the crowd. He further questioned the Chief Minister’s understanding of the people’s struggles. “If the CM cannot name the districts of the state, will he know your pain?” PM Modi asked, suggesting a potential disconnect between the state’s leadership and its citizens.
The Prime Minister’s remarks have caused a ripple in the political circles of Odisha. His challenge is seen as a direct critique of the Chief Minister’s governance and his understanding of the state’s geography and its people.
The state government has not yet responded to the Prime Minister’s challenge. The political climate in Odisha is heating up, and it remains to be seen how ‘Naveen Babu’ will respond to this public questioning of his knowledge and governance.