Naveen returns without having darshan

PURI: In a departure from his practice of going to the sanctum sanctorum of Jagannath temple to seek blessings of the presiding deities on the New Year’s day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday returned without having ‘darshan’ soon after entering the shrine. Clad in his usual spotless white kurta and pyjama, Naveen entered the 12th century shrine through the ‘Singhadwar’ (Lion’s Gate) and started climbing the Baisi Pahacha (22 steps) of the temple. While climbing the steps, Naveen did not allow ministers and supporters to come anywhere  near him and was heard asking “Where is the SP? Who is SP here?” sources in the temple administration said. SP AN Sinha immediately appeared before Naveen and vacated the area, sources said adding that the local MLA and Panchayati Raj Minister Maheswar Mohanty was seen at a distance as also other leaders and supporters. Naveen stopped at the seventh step and prayed with folded hands there. Then he went out of the temple complex and proceeded towards  ‘Swargadwar’, the cremation ground on the sea beach, to pay homage to his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik at the ‘Biju Samadhi Pitha'. On being asked why the Chief Minister did not enter the sanctum sanctorum, sevayats and security personnel feigned ignorance. Sources said Naveen could not climb the remaining stairs due to his leg injury.