Sambalpur, May 17 -- The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today cornered Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over several key issues including Koshali dialect, Sambalpuri saree and Mahanadi River water sharing row.

Addressing a public meeting in Sambalpur, 5T Chairman and BJD's chief election strategist VK Pandian lambasted the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate asking a few questions and seeking a reply to the people of Sambalpur by evening.

He asked about the union minister's contribution to the development of the Sambalpuri dialect, its culture and the people of western Odisha, criticising him for his support to Chhattisgarh over the Mahanadi water sharing issue.

"Koshali language is the identity of Sambalpur. CM Naveen Patnaik had sent a proposal to the...