State BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said: "Keeping panchayat elections in mind, the government is on a publicity spree. We will take a photograph of each project and prove how the government is making fools of the people."
However, the BJD has defended the move of its leader.
Party spokesperson Samir Dash said: "Naveen Babu wants to underscore the need for faster development. By doing this, he is avoiding unnecessary expenditure on inaugural functions. He is taking benefit of technology which has advanced by leaps and bounds." Dash also said that there were clear-cut instructions that even after the chief minister inaugurated a specific project, the local MLA and ward member would go and rededicate the project to the people.
"So the allegation about centralisation of power is wrong. As Opposition parties do not have any issue, they are harping on this," the BJD spokesperson said.
"What the chief minister is doing is saving both time and money. The fruits of the various development programmes are directly reaching the doorsteps of the people without any delay. We have seen that many projects even after their completion, remain non-operational with formal inauguration not taking place. With this, we have overcome such procedural delays," said Dash.