Bhubaneswar, Dec. 9 -- A district-level tribal cultural festival in Nabarangpur turned into a political platform on Sunday, as local leaders of the ruling party and Opposition party trained guns at each other over the effectiveness of the government schemes in the region.

It was the closing ceremony of the district-level tribal cultures' festival 'Mandei' when, on the dais, there were invited guests including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. When it was the turn of Dabugaon MLA Manohar Randhari, he seized the opportunity to criticise the BJP-led government, highlighting deficiencies in areas such as employment and healthcare.

"Our district should get Vayu Swasthay Seva (Air Health Services). If provided, our patients can be shifted in...