The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has asked Chhattisgarh governor Biswabhusan Harichandan not to comment on Odisha affairs, and maintain the dignity and prestige of the office of governor.

Harichandan invited the wrath of the BJD for publicly expressing his displeasure over the "darshan system" in Puri Shree Jagannath Temple, particularly devotees waiting for long hours in queue to have a darshan of the deities.

Harichandan had also reservations about the Odisha cabinet’s decision to allow tribals to transfer their lands to non-tribals. The Odisha government has put on hold its decision and sent the matter to the Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) for a review.

Harichandan, who served as a law minister in the BJD-BJP coalition government in the state between 2000 and 2009, had also expressed his annoyance over the tardy progress in the construction of the Paika Memorial, intended to commemorate the Paika rebellion of 1817 against Britishers. The memorial is coming up at the foothills of Barunei in Khurda district, about 25km from the state capital Bhubaneswar.

Making a subtle attack on Harichandan, BJD spokespersons Sasmit Patra and Priyabrata Majhi said: “Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan should not lower the dignity and respect of his office by expressing views on various subjects in Odisha which is not expected of him.”

The ruling BJD said: “Odisha has seen Odias like Janaki Ballav Patnaik and Droupadi Murmu who were governors of Assam and Jharkhand, respectively, and never once uttered a word which would be considered as unbecoming of their office and stature. That is the true stature of a good governor, who keeps the sanctity and dignity of the office of the governor.”

The party further said: “His responsibility is to stay non-political, and he should do that which has been mandated on him by nothing less than the Constitution of India and the Oath of Office that he had taken when he took over as governor of Andhra Pradesh and presently in Chhattisgarh."

The BJD also reminded Harichandan about the Indian Constitution. “Constitutionally, governors have been expected to be neutral and impartial. They are also expected to maintain the dignity of the office of governor by not making any such statements or remarks which might lead to the lowering of the dignity and respect of their position,” the spokespersons said.

The BJP, on the other hand, asked the BJD to apologise to the governor. “Harichandan being an Odia, has made a few observations on the affairs of the Jagannath Temple. What's wrong with it? By criticising the governor, the BJD only shows its poor state of mind,” BJP leader Samir Mohanty said.