Sambalpur, May 17: Senior BJD leader and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide V K Pandian on Friday made a blooper by saying "Santha Kabi Gangadhar Meher" and "Kabi Bhim Bhoi" during his election speech in Sambalpur, triggering a row over ‘Odia Asmita’ or Odia pride.

Addressing an election rally in Sambalpur, Pandian called "Swabhaba Kabi Gangadhar Meher" as "Santha Kabi Gangadhar Meher ''. He also said "Kabi Bhim Bhoi'' instead of "Santha Kabi Bhim Bhoi" in his speech in the presence of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and BJD's organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das.

The Tamil Nadu-born bureaucrat-turned-politician's remark on Odia legends sparked a huge political storm across the state as Opposition BJP has selectively made ‘Odia Asmita’ or Odia pride as its main poll plank this elections.

Earlier, the BJD government landed in controversy as the name of a renowned poet like Kanta Kabi (Laxmikanta Mohapatra) was mispronounced as ‘Kantha Kabi’ at the first World Odia Language Conference in Bhubaneswar.

The assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha are being held across four phases--from May 13 to June 1.

Polling for the first phase was conducted in 28 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha constituencies on May 13. In the fifth phase, 35 Assembly seats and five Lok Sabha constituencies will vote on May 20, 42 Assembly segments and six Lok Sabha seats on May 25 and the remaining 42 Assembly seats and six Lok Sabha constituencies in the last phase on June 1.

The results will be out on June 4.

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