Bhubaneswar, November 4: A political slugfest has erupted in poll-bound Nuapada after BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik accused BJP of ‘betraying the trust’ of the people of Nuapada. BJP candidate Jay Dholakia, on the other hand, hit back at Patnaik, saying he was showing up in the district only for political and electoral gain.

“I respected him (Naveen Patnaik) like a father figure. He had close relations with my father but when my father was fighting for life and death at the hospital, Naveen Patnaik never visited us,” rued Jay Dholakia, the BJP’s nominee and son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, whose death has necessitated the bypoll.

“My father gave his 100% to that party (BJD), but they did not offer him even one percent of that dedication back. Even after my father’s demise, they did not attend the last rites of my father. Now, just a month later, with the election approaching, they are all rushing to Nuapada for election campaigns,” Jay added.

Maintaining that people understand everything, Jay said termed Patnaik’s statement as an emotional strategy to woo voters.

For the context, while addressing a public rally in Komana block yesterday, former Chief Minister Patnaik accused the BJP of “stealing candidates” to contest elections.

The BJD chief’s remarks were aimed at late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia’s son Jay Dholakia, who switched to the BJP ahead of the bypoll and is now contesting on a saffron party ticket.

Nuapada will go to vote on November 11 and results will be declared in November 14.