BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Puri, Sambit Patra, sparked controversy with his statement that "Lord Jagannath is Modi's bhakt". Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the remarks, stating that it hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannath bhaktas and Odias. Congress demanded an apology while Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal called it the "height of arrogance". Patra later clarified it was a slip of tongue and apologized, but the statement has sparked intense debate and backlash in the political arena.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik publicly expressed his disapproval and disapproval of BJP candidate Sambit Patra's statement referring to Lord Jagannath as an ardent devotee of PM Narendra Modi. He criticized the BJP for involving religious figures in political discourse and warned that such comments hurt the pride of Odias. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also joined in condemning the remarks, calling it the "height of arrogance." Patra defended his slip of the tongue and urged Patnaik not to make an issue out of nothing.