India, April 11 -- In a sharp attack on former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, BJP national president JP Nadda on Friday alleged that Patnaik's refusal to implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana was driven by personal ego, which ultimately cost the BJD government its public support.

While addressing a mega launching of Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Cuttack, Nadda reminded the people that Ayushman Bharat, a flagship health insurance scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 in Ranchi, was designed to provide free medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually. Despite repeated requests, Naveen Patnaik allegedly refused to implement the scheme in Odisha.

"We requested him many times. I even asked senior BJP leader J...