Betrayal of mandate, says estranged ally BJP

The BJP today termed the winning of the trust vote by the Naveen Patnaik-led government in Orissa as a “case of opportunism and betrayal of people’s mandate.”

“It is not a victory, it is opportunism. Naveen Patnaik and his party have betrayed the mandate of the people,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedekar said.

“Now it is a ground zero situation. The people of Orissa would hit back and give a befitting reply to Patnaik and his party for the betrayal. The BJP occupies the non-Congress space in Orissa,” Javedekar added.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today won the vote of confidence in the state assembly by voice vote.

Strongly protesting the passage of the trust motion moved by the CM by voice vote “all of a sudden”, members of Congress and BJP walked out of the House demanding division of votes on the crucial trial of strength.

Meanwhile, the BJD termed the charge of BJP and Congress that the manner in which the proceedings in the Orissa assembly were conducted amounted to “murder of democracy” as “unfortunate”.

Reacting to the development, BJD MP Jay Panda said that none of the opposition parties had asked for a division. “I think it is unfortunate they are saying such things. The fact is nobody asked for a division neither the BJP nor the Congress.”