'BJP known to magnify non-issues': Naveen dismisses Himanta's shaking-hand jibe

BJD chief Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday dismissed BJP's concerns over a viral video allegedly showing his key associate, V K Pandian, assisting him with his shaking hand during a rally.

"BJP is known for magnifying non-issues. It will certainly not work," Naveen said. Many BJP functionaries shared the video in which Pandian, holding a microphone, was seen trying to place Naveen's shaking left hand, which he had placed on the podium, away from public view.

"This is a deeply distressing video. I shudder to imagine the level of control a retired bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is exercising over the future of Odisha," said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who campaigned in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj for BJP on Tuesday.

Addressing a public meeting at Nilgiri under Balasore Lok Sabha seat, Pandian said political rivals had resorted to insulting the CM after they realised that Naveen will take oath as CM on June 9. "Give them a betting reply," he told the gathering.