Modi does not deserve a second term, says Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Sunday said PM Narendra Modi does not deserve a second term.

“I don’t really think so. No,” Mr Patnaik told a national news channel on being asked whether Modi deserves another chance as prime minister.

“Mr Modi has not been successful. During the last five years, there has been no improvement in unemployment, irrigation and railways,” Mr Patnaik, who is seeking a straight fifth term, added.

However, he described late BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee as “one of the best prime ministers India has had.”

The conch party supremo reiterated that BJD will support any side in Lok Sabha that “supports just demands of Odisha.”

On being asked about his perception towards Rahul Gandhi as a leader of the Congress party, Mr Patnaik said, “He still has to mature.”

Taking a dig at Mr Modi’s statement that Odisha will become another Tripura where BJP will form the government, Mr Patnaik said, “In his (Narendra Modi) dreams.”

He also exuded confidence that the BJD will have a “comfortable majority in this elections.”

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