Bhubaneswar: BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today lambasted Opposition BJP for ‘spreading lies and rumours’ about his health during campaigning for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Odisha.

While speaking to a news agency, the Chief Minister claimed that he is in very good health and has been campaigning for the ruling party across the state for last few months.

“There is a limit to the amount of lies BJP can tell. As you can see I am in very good health and have been campaigning all over the state for months,” said the Chief Minister.

5T chairman and the Patnaik’s trusted aide VK Pandian too targeted the BJP for using ‘distasteful languages’ towards the Chief Minister.

“I only hope that BJP comes with innovative ideas instead of talking about something which is non-existent. You are all watching the Chief Minister. It is very unfortunate, below the belt. People of Odisha will not appreciate this kind of demeaning of Chief Minister who enjoys such popularity among the people. I only suggest letting them come up with something innovative. It is so substandard (sic),” said Pandian to the same news agency.

While campaigning in Odisha a few days ago, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that Patnaik should retire due his ‘advanced age and health issues’.

Shah promised that the BJP will make a young Odia-speaking person as the Chief Minister if the party is voted to power in Odisha.

BJP national president JP Nadda too said that the people of Odisha want a healthy and active Chief Minister.

“People want to give rest to Naveen Babu and set the governance free from the bureaucratic control. They want a healthy, active and young Chief Minister, who can serve them and contribute to bring significant changes in their daily life,” Nadda said during a roadshow in Bhubaneswar a few days ago.

BJP leader Samir Mohanty had also pointed out that the BJD supremo was unable to speak much in public meetings due to his ‘poor health’.