Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's "advanced age and health issues" have become a frequent target for jibes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is vying with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for control of the state's 147-member Assembly and its 21 Lok Sabha seats. On May 29, Mr. Modi, 73, claimed—without providing evidence—that there was a "conspiracy behind the sudden deterioration of Naveen Patnaik's health" and vowed to form a committee to investigate the 77-year-old Chief Minister's medical history. 

At a rally in Odisha's Baripada, the Prime Minister questioned, "Is there a conspiracy behind the sudden deterioration of Naveen Patnaik's health? Is the lobby currently running the Patnaik government on his behalf responsible for this sudden deterioration?" 

"If the BJP forms the government in Odisha... it will constitute a committee to ascertain the reason behind the deterioration of Naveen Patnaik's health," the Prime Minister thundered. Hours later, Mr. Patnaik responded with a jibe of his own, urging the Prime Minister to "pick up a telephone and ask me about my health." He declared, "Let me assure the PM I am in perfect health." 

"He (the Prime Minister) earlier said in public, 'I am his good friend'. All he had to do then was pick up a phone and ask about my health. But BJP people from Odisha and Delhi are spreading rumors," Mr. Patnaik stated. 

The not-so-hidden target of Mr. Modi's allegation—also echoed by other BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma—is VK Pandian, a senior BJD leader from Tamil Nadu widely seen as the Chief Minister's right-hand man. Pandian was observed trying to cover Mr. Patnaik's shaking hands during a campaign speech, which has fuelled the speculation. 

Mr. Pandian, who has downplayed speculation that he is a chief minister-in-waiting, has also been mocked by Amit Shah. Shah's party, which has made extensive efforts to win over voters in Tamil Nadu where it has little traction, referred to him as a "Tamil babu." 

"Naveen babu has made a Tamil officer ruler... Oust the BJD (and) we will give a young Odia-speaking Chief Minister... babus have looted the state," Mr. Shah declared last week. "If BJP is voted to power, a bhumiputra (son of the soil) will rule, not a Tamil babu." Mr. Patnaik has dismissed these attacks as baseless. 

Last week, he accused the BJP of spreading falsehoods and pointed out that he has been campaigning across the state for the past month. "There is a limit to the lies the BJP can tell. As you can see... I am in very good health," he told news agency ANI. On 28th May, after the video of Mr. Pandian covering his hand emerged, the BJD boss took the BJP to task for making "non-issues into issues." He remarked, "This will certainly not work." 

The attacks by Mr. Modi come as the BJP deploys its strongest tactics against the ruling BJD in an attempt to secure its first-ever Assembly election victory and to win as many Lok Sabha seats as possible. 

Historically, Odisha has typically alternated between the BJD and the Congress, with Mr. Patnaik serving as Chief Minister since March 2000. On the Lok Sabha front, the BJP is pushing forward, despite challenges from the Congress-led INDIA bloc, towards its goal of 'abki baar, 400 paar' and a third consecutive term at the centre. 

In the 2019 elections, the BJD won 12 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats, which was eight seats fewer than their previous tally. The BJP secured eight seats, and the party also saw a significant increase of 16.9% in vote share. 

The attacks also suggest that the BJP is concerned about Mr. Pandian, perhaps more so than the Chief Minister himself, against whom they have made relatively standard claims of failing to develop the state over the past 24 years. 

Image Source: Hint