Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 : Odisha Congress on Friday took a strong exception to a meeting of newly appointed Governor Raghubar Das with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas and described it as a breach of protocol.
Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo described the Governor meeting the Chief Minister in Naveen Niwas as a breach of protocol.
He demanded that the governor’s office and the Chief Minister’s office should clarify the reason behind such a meeting.
Odisha Governor Raghubar Das called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence on Thursday.
The senior Congress leader said a clarification should be issued stating that the Governor met the Chief Minister as he was ill, to present him with a Diwali gift, or to deliver the Prime Minister’s message to him.
He wanted to know what business the governor has at Naveen Niwas? What message did he deliver to Patnaik soon after meeting the Prime Minister in New Delhi?
The Congress leader said there would be no breach of protocol if the Chief Minister was unwell and the Governor called on him.
The Governor’s Office on its social media platform x on Thursday said ‘’Honourable Governor Shri @dasraghubar paid a courtesy visit to Honourable Chief Minister Shri@Naveen-Odisha at Naveen Niwas. He discussed about development of Odisha in detail and wished CM good health and active life in service of the state.”
The Chief Minister, in his social media handler X, said, ‘’Glad to meet the Honourable Governor of #Odisha, Shri@dasraghubar ji. Discussed on various topics concerning Odisha and look forward to working with him for the welfare of the state and its people.
Senior BJP leader and Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said it was a courtesy call and criticized the Congress for politicizing the matter.
BJD leader and Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said there was nothing wrong with the governor meeting the chief minister and described it as a courtesy call.