BJD tried to lure me with ministerial berth, mining lease: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi

Majhi, however, did not mention the name of anyone in the BJD. He said the people he referred to “once told me that I would get whatever I want if I would join BJD. They tried to lure me. What’s their condition today?”

After assuming charge as Chief Minister, Majhi is on his maiden trip to his constituency, Keonjhar, in the mineral-rich district of the same name. (PTI)

Accusing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which was in power in Odisha before its loss to the BJP in the recent Assembly elections, of trying to lure him to the party with offers of a ministerial berth and lease of a mineral block, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Sunday that he was “not for sale”.

“Three years ago, when I was fighting for Odisha against the (then) BJD government, it was scared of Mohan Majhi. When I sharpened the attack on the BJD regime in the Assembly, people who called themselves the CM’s slave tried to facilitate my entry into BJD camp ahead of 2024 polls,” he said at a public meeting in Keonjhar.

After assuming charge as Chief Minister, Majhi is on his maiden trip to his constituency, Keonjhar, in the mineral-rich district of the same name.

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Majhi, however, did not mention the name of anyone in the BJD. He said the people he referred to “once told me that I would get whatever I want if I would join BJD. They tried to lure me. What’s their condition today?”

Saying that the BJD had made similar offers to him in 2009, 2014 and 2024, the Majhi said he was not a bikau (someone who is for sale) but a tikau (someone who stays firm).

“Mohan Majhi is not meant only for ministerial berth, but he has the capacity to lead the state. With your blessings, you have made me the Chief Minister of Odisha. You have given me all responsibilities. You have given me the responsibility to manage all the mining blocks in the state,” said Majhi.

Accusing the BJD government of looting the mineral resources of the state, Majhi said people have given him the responsibility to form a new Odisha and to change the fortunes of Odisha.

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The CM, who is on a two-day visit to his constituency, is scheduled to hold a roadshow in his native village Raikala on Monday.