Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ended his campaign for the first phase elections in the State, through a series of road shows and public meetings in Ganjam, his home district on Tuesday.
Mr. Patnaik had flagged off the election campaign of his party in the State from Ganjam district on March 26. Before that the BJD president had flagged off its State wide ‘ sankha bajao swabhiman bachao’ (blow the conch, save the pride) program in his home district Ganjam on February 20. During his whirlwind tour of the district on Tuesday, the CM hopped from place to place by helicopter to take part in several road shows and four public meetings. His last public meeting of the day and the last one for the campaign for first phase elections in the State was at Kaliabali, under Chatrapur assembly segment of Berhampur Lok Sabha seat. From Kaliabali he air dashed to Berhampur to take part in a road show before returning back to Bhubaneswar.
Speaking to newsmen at Kaliabali, Mr. Patnaik said he was confident that the BJD would do extremely well in the recent elections for the assembly and Lok Sabha. During his address to the crowd here he tried to rekindle the emotional link with the voters by saying that his illustrious father Biju Patnaik was son of the soil of Ganjam and he was overwhelmed by the support that this district was continuing to give him.
Without naming anyone, he said a national leader during his election rally in Odisha had hurt Odia pride by demeaning the Odia workers of Ganjam who work in his State. It was evident that he was attacking the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as he added that this leader should remember that Odia workers of Ganjam have played a major role in development of Gujarat. He criticised the BJP leader for using Biju Patnaik’s name during campaign by saying Biju Patnaik was role model of sacrifice and service while these leaders are epitomes of falsity. “How can this leader lead the country and the country feel safe in his hands,” he asked.
He lashed out at senior leaders who chose to ignore Odisha at the time of need as they did not visit the state after cyclone Phalin hit. He lashed out at the Congress led UPA government saying its negligence towards Odisha had been proved as it did not grant special category State status, nor did it increase the mining royalty. He claimed that his government had developed the State in every sector which had been recognised by the Central government, Planning Commission as well as the RBI . He promised to start work to fulfil all promises made in the BJD manifesto from the first day his government comes to power in the State again.
