Bhubaneswar, March 18 -- Bhubaneswar: On the sidelines of the high drama that unfolded in front of the Odisha Assembly on Thursday when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators marched towards Naveen Niwas 'in search of' CM Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Panchayati Raj Minister, Pratap Jena made a caustic remark which did not go down well with fellow Opposition legislators.

Making an off-the-cuff jibe, Jena said, "Naveen Niwas is a holy place and the sins of BJP leaders will be washed away if they step into it."

Jena while speaking to the media at the Naveen Niwas, further added, "I welcome the BJP members coming here to meet the CM. This is a holy place and it is an important landmark in Odisha politics. After Biju Babu, CM Naveen Patnaik has ...