Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Odisha government’s latest budget, describing it as grandiose on paper but hollow in substance.
Speaking to the media after the assembly session, Patnaik called the budget “Full Menu in an Empty Kitchen”.
Later, in a strongly worded post on X from his official handle, Patnaik sarcastically congratulated the BJP government while expressing deep disappointment over its fiscal direction.
“Welcome to the new era where every newborn child in Odisha will be welcomed with a per-capita loan burden of nearly Rs 30,000,” he wrote, warning that the state’s total debt is on course to touch Rs 1,30,000 crore soon. He argued that such borrowing would “strain Odisha’s finances, derail the state’s development momentum and welfare of the people.”
Patnaik contrasted the current government’s approach with his own tenure, stating that when the BJD assumed office, most revenues went towards debt repayment, leaving little for development. Through “meticulous planning and fiscal prudence,” he claimed, the BJD drastically reduced the debt burden and made Odisha one of the best-managed states financially in the country.
The former Chief Minister also criticised the much-touted “Double Engine” narrative of the BJP, saying people had hoped for doubled Central grants but instead witnessed shrinking remittances year after year, especially in the last two years.
While acknowledging that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid tribute to farmers in his budget speech, Patnaik said the budget fell short in addressing farmers’ real concerns. He summed up his critique with a memorable line: “In short: The budget is like a full menu in an empty kitchen.”
The post has sparked immediate political reactions, with BJD leaders amplifying the criticism and BJP spokespersons yet to issue a detailed response at the time of publishing.
Patnaik’s remarks underscore the continuing sharp rivalry between the BJD and BJP in Odisha, nearly two years after the regional party lost power in the 2024 elections.
