The cavalcade of chief minister Naveen Patnaik moves through Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, March 27: BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik continued his attack on leaders of national political parties for not visiting the Phailin victims.

At all his eight public meetings in the district, which was hit by cyclone Phailin on October 12 last year, Naveen repeated his allegations against leaders of the Congress and the BJP, without naming the parties and individuals.

“These leaders, who are now promising the electorate to give hati and ghoda (elephants and horses), are shedding only crocodile tears. Where were they when Phailin ravaged the area?” Naveen asked.

The chief minister is the Assembly candidate from the Hinjili seat and the district is considered to be his party’s bastion.

“When the cyclone hit Gopalpur, my heart was in Ganjam. We were saved because of the blessings of Lord Jagannath. We faced the calamity because of our collective efforts and I thank you all for the co-operation,” Naveen said amid thunderous applause.

“The leaders, who are now shedding crocodile tears, have always been ignoring Odisha and the people of our state since long,” he said, hinting at the Congress-led UPA government’s refusal to accord special status to the state.

“I started my political career in Ganjam in 1997 and people of the district have extended their whole-hearted support to me for which I am indebted. I have worked for the development and self respect of Odisha, and we have achieved much national and international recognition,” he said.

The chief minister held meetings at Purushottampur, Kabisurya Nagar, Polsara, Aska, Seragada, Dharakote and Chhatrapur and ended his two-day electioneering in the district.

Bikram Panda, who is the Congress candidate from the Berhampur Assembly seat, refuted the allegation, saying that former Union minister Chandra Sekhar Sahu and Union minister Srikant Jena had visited the Phailin-affected areas.

“But, Naveen was unable to spend the financial assistance from the Centre to tackle the Phailin. Most of the storm-hit people are still deprived of getting the money to rebuild their houses. Naveen did not visit Berhampur. People must ask Naveen what he has done for Ganjam and Berhampur in the 14 years,” he said.

BJP leader Ram Chandra Panda, who is also a candidate from the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency, said Naveen, himself, had never visited the Phailin-affected areas of Ganjam. “He has never interacted with the people in the district. He made an aerial trip of the areas and spoke only with the government officers,” Ram Chandra said.