Bhubaneswar, Feb. 4: The battle to take credit for the 15-million-tonne oil refinery in Paradip has taken over the streets here. Engaged in the big fight are rivals Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, but all through posters.
The battle for honour between the BJP and the BJD touched a new high with the appearance of hundreds of posters and banners of Modi all across the city.
Though the posters of Modi carry the logo of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), BJD leaders say that the public utility is only batting for the BJP.
The city, however, wears a colourful look with a smiling Prime Minister looking out of these posters and banners, most of which do not even mention the launch of the Paradip refinery.
Not willing to be left out in the race to corner credit for building the Paradip project, the BJD has squeezed in posters of its own mascots - chief minister Naveen Patnaik and his father Biju Patnaik - between those of Modi.
But if one goes by sheer number, Modi has beaten the Patnaiks on their home turf.
Though making a forceful presence through the posters, Modi has cut short his trip to the state.
Earlier, the Prime Minister was to arrive here on February 6 on a two-day visit. But now the trip is only for a day. He will reach here on February 7 and leave the state the same day.
The war over posters began when the IOCL rolled out 30 campaign vehicles announcing the launch of the refinery project. The BJD took objection to the use of the pictures of Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan on the vehicles.
On the ground of violation of the Supreme Court ruling, the state government sought a report from the Jagatsinghpur collector and the IOCL subsequently removed Pradhan's picture from the campaign vehicles.
The Jagatsinghpur district administration even seized some of these vehicles.
The BJP on its part has launched a campaign on various TV channels to spread the message about Modi's trip.
The BJP's strategy has angered its rival. BJD vice-president and senior minister Damodar Rout today demanded a CBI inquiry into source of funding of the BJP's campaign. "The Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan is treating the IOCL programme as a party event. It seems the Indian Oil Corporation Limited has sponsored the BJP's campaign. The CBI should inquire into the expenditure made on this count."
Rout told The Telegraph: "BJP leaders should remember that Narendra Modi is coming here as the Prime Minister of India. Here, the chief minister plays the role of the host and the Prime Minister is the guest. This is a national project and no attempt should be made by the state BJP to take credit for it. They should refrain from trying to turn it into a party event."
Replying to the charge, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma told The Telegraph: "The minister is feeling insecure in his party. It will be better if he stops making comments like this."
Sharma dared Rout to ask the chief minister recommend a CBI probe.
Watching the tug-of-war between the BJD and the BJP from the sidelines, Congress leader Nirajan Patnaik said: "Let us not distort history. The idea of setting up oil refinery was first mooted by Congress government in 1985 when I was the industry minister. The project work began after 1995 when Congress returned to power."
