Clip of Pandian hiding Patnaik's trembling hand goes viral; BJP sees 'power grab', Odisha CM retorts

A video of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's hands trembling while giving a speech has triggered a war of words between BJD and the BJP.

In the clip, Patnaik's alleged political heir and former Tamil Nadu-born bureaucrat VK Pandian can be seen trying to hide the CM's trembling hand. The BJP, sharing the clip, viewed it as a symbolic attempt at power grab by Pandian.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a lengthy post on X called it a distressing video. He claimed that Pandian controlling the hand movement of Patnaik is synonymous with his control over the Odisha government.

"This is a deeply distressing video. Shri VK Pandian ji is even controlling the hand movements of Shri Naveen Babu. I shudder to imagine the level of control a retired ex-bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is currently exercising over the future of Odisha! BJP is determined is give back the reins of Odisha to the people of the State," the caption read.

Responding to the BJP jibes, Patnaik said that the saffron party is making an issue out of a non-issue by discussing his hands.

"I believe the BJP, which is known to make non-issues into issues, is discussing my hands. This will certainly not work," said the 77-year-old said in a video statement shared by BJD.