Bhubaneswar, June 27: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik will find himself in an awkward situation when his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar visits Cuttack in the first week of August to campaign for prohibition in the state.

Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi, who is on a visit to the state in his capacity as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on industry, today told reporters: "We appeal to Naveen as the worthy son of a worthy father to implement complete prohibition in the state. In a poverty-stricken state such as Odisha, liquor should not be allowed either for trading or consumption at any cost."

Tyagi said during his visit Nitish will appeal to Naveen to take steps to implement prohibition in Odisha. However, political observers are of the view that Nitish's push for prohibition will hit the cash-strapped Naveen Patnaik government financially.

"At the same time, Naveen's refusal to accept Nitish's request will be a major embarrassment for the government and dent his public image seriously, especially among women, who have been in the forefront of anti-liquor campaign in the state," said a senior BJD leader.

Total prohibition appears to be anathema for the BJD government, which aims to collect Rs 3,300 crore from tax on liquor in 2016-17. Tyagi said: "The Bihar government is losing Rs 4,500 crore every year, but saves Rs 50,000 crore annually because of prohibition. It has its impact on the social fabric. Now people in the state can at least afford to take their children to school for regular health check-ups."

"Odisha should follow the footsteps of Bihar. Losing Rs 2,700 crore every year should not be a big deal keeping in mind the benefits," he said, adding his party was in touch with social activists and would invite like-minded party members to be part of the prohibition campaign. On the political front, the JD(U) has some advice for Naveen.

In an apparent reference to the BJP, Tyagi urged Naveen "to take a clear stand on the increasing trend of fascism in the country. Like Biju babu, he should take a firm stand on this issue".

On the BJD's stance that it was maintaining a policy of equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress, he said: "His anti-BJP stand is not being reflected in his action. Why did he not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Mamata Banerjee? What prevented him from at least deputing someone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar in Patna?"

Tyagi said: "Secular forces are joining hands to defeat BJP's plans. The economic policy pursued by the Narendra Modi government will be disastrous for the country. We are trying to place an alternative economic policy before the country." A workshop will be held in July in New Delhi in which the people involved in various movements, such as agitation against displacement, would be invited. Following that, a blueprint for an agitation across the country will be chalked out.

Reacting to Nitish's proposed visit, excise minister Damodar Rout said: "It will have no impact on the state. It's not prudent at the moment to go for complete prohibition. We are waiting to assess its impact in Bihar and Tamil Nadu. If the feedback is positive, we can also think of prohibition."

Rout recalled that total prohibition in Gujarat had opened the floodgates for spurious liquor in the state. "More than 200 people died in a hooch tragedy there last year. We have also had a bitter experience in the past. Biju babu had shut down country liquor shops (bhatti) in 1994, but it turned out to be a major problem. Later, J.B. Patnaik had lifted the ban," he said.

However, the Opposition said Biju Patnaik had not only backed the anti-liquor campaign led by women, but also appointed one of these women - Sumani Jhodiani, an indomitable tribal activist from Kashipur - as one of his advisors and bestowed her with the powers of a police officer.