Sweltering heat fails to dampen campaigners’ spirit in Odisha

Congress and BJP are yet to line up their main campaigners

Even as the maximum day temperature crossed 40 degree Celsius in parts of Odisha on Friday, major political parties intensified their campaign across the State.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik went around Bolangir and Kalahandi districts addressing a series of election meetings during the day as Congress leaders started making preparations for party vice president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Malkangiri and Koraput on April 31.

AICC in-charge for Odisha B.K. Hariprasad, who arrived here, said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi would be star campaigners in the State. Mr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi would come after Mr. Gandhi’s visit.

As the BJD intensified its campaigning with their star campaigner Mr. Patnaik addressing poll meetings for the third consecutive day in the region that was scheduled to go to the polls in the first phase on April 10, the Congress and the BJP were yet to engage their main campaigners in the job.

Mr. Patnaik, who addressed a meeting at Titilagarh in Bolangir, one of the hottest places during summer, urged people to vote for his party nominees to enable his party to fight for Odisha’s interest in New Delhi.

As the opposition Congress and the BJP had failed in their attempt to make the mining scam and other issues of corruption and atrocities against women a major poll issue, Mr. Patnaik was successfully continuing his Centre-bashing to create a regional sentiment among the people.

Criticising both the Congress and the BJP for allegedly shedding crocodile tears for the people of Odisha, Mr. Patnaik reiterated that he was here to serve the people and would work for the development of the State till his last breath.

Although the BJD is facing challenges from many of its own leaders, who have turned silent dissidents after distribution of party tickets, Mr. Patnaik is trying his best to win the polls by intensifying campaigning ahead of his main rivals – the Congress and the BJP.

Meanwhile, almost all the candidates campaigned in their respective constituencies braving the scorching sun.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Jayadev Jena was seen campaigning with veteran actor and party nominee for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat Bijay Mohanty on Friday.