In a fiery public meeting held in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a challenge to the state’s Chief Minister, popularly known as ‘Naveen Babu’.
The Prime Minister, addressing a large crowd, questioned the Chief Minister’s familiarity with the state he has been governing for a long time. “I want to challenge ‘Naveen Babu’,” said PM Modi, “As he has been the CM for such a long time, I ask ‘Naveen Babu’ to name the districts of Odisha and their respective capitals without seeing on a paper.”
PM Modi’s challenge was met with applause from the crowd, as he continued his speech, questioning 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?” he asked, implying a disconnect between the state’s leadership and its citizens.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come at a time when the state government has been facing criticism for various issues. The challenge issued by PM Modi is seen as a direct attack on the Chief Minister’s governance and his understanding of the state’s geography and its people.
The state government has yet to respond to the Prime Minister’s challenge. As the political temperature in Odisha heats up, it remains to be seen how ‘Naveen Babu’ will respond to this public questioning of his knowledge and governance.
