Bhubaneswar: A political slugfest has erupted between BJP and BJD over Odisha securing fifth position in NITI Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index, with both parties staking claim to the achievement.While the BJP govt has been celebrating the ranking as a validation of its industrial and investment policies, the BJD on Friday alleged that the feat was the outcome of reforms and fiscal discipline established during former chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year tenure.Addressing the media, former minister and BJD MLA Dibya Shankar Mishra and party spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said Odisha’s emergence as one of the country’s most investment-friendly and fiscally disciplined states was built on long-term industrial planning, policy consistency and transparent governance under the previous BJD govt.Mohanty alleged that the BJP was trying to appropriate the achievements of the previous govt instead of focusing on industrialisation, job creation and economic growth. He claimed the state’s ranking reflected decades of fiscal discipline and governance reforms initiated during BJD rule.Countering the charge, BJP spokesperson Biranchi Narayan Tripathy said Odisha’s rapid progress was the result of coordinated efforts of the Narendra Modi-led Union govt and the Mohan Charan Majhi-led state govt. “A frustrated BJD is indulging in political rhetoric. Even two years after being voted out of power, it is yet to accept the people’s mandate,” Tripathy said.Industry associations felicitated the chief minister on Thursday for the state’s performance in the index. Majhi described the recognition as a milestone that would strengthen Odisha’s growth trajectory and reaffirmed his govt’s commitment to accelerating industrialisation, attracting investment and positioning Odisha among the country’s top-performing economies.Naveen took a swipe at BJP in a social media post, saying he was happy that the ruling party was “chest-thumping” the achievement, but expressed concern over what he termed the state’s financial mismanagement. He alleged that the “double-engine” govt risked pushing Odisha back towards financial distress it had inherited 25 years ago.
