Bhubaneswar: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and BJP over their political chemistry.

Attending the 'Odisha Banchao' rally organised by the state unit of Congress at Lower PMG area in Bhubaneswar today, Kharge described the BJP-BJD chemistry as a 'Love Marriage'.

Referring to a statement by Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar over the marriage between BJD and BJP, Kharge said, "It's wrong that Congress solemnised the marriage of BJP-BJD. They have already made love marriage and taken vows to ruin Odisha together."

Addressing the Congress workers during his first-ever visit to Odisha after taking charge as the AICC chief, he said, "This is the holy land of Lord Jagannath. Kalinga also holds significance in history. Odisha had a special place in the eyes of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Even he had attended his last meeting of Congress in Odisha in the year 1964."

Taking a dig at Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, he said, "Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha, was from Congress. Both Nehru and Patnaik were close friends. The latter believed in Nehru's ideology. But today's Patnaik (CM Naveen Patnaik) follows BJP's ideology. There is a big difference between the then Patnaik and today's Patnaik."

He said that that Congress is credited for all sorts of development in Odisha.

"Be it Paradip Port, Rourkela Steel Plant, Mancheswar Railway Workshop, Chilika Indian Naval Academy, Congress has given these to Odisha. With the support of Nehru and Biju Patnaik, these industries were set up in Odisha. What today's Patnaik is doing? In collaboration with the BJP, he is allowing to loot state properties," Kharge said.

He said that the rich people are with the BJP and Patnaik. But Congress always stands with the poor.

"The BJP and RSS are the poison and Patnaik is with them. They all are snatching away our rights," Kharge said.