Despite heavy rainfall Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended a pubic meeting at Jagatsinghpur on Sunday amid controversy regarding the venue.
Even though there was poor turn-out due to the heavy rain, presence of the Chief Minister boosted the moral of the ULB candidates and leaders of the party. BJD had expected a gathering of more than 5,000 people but around 1000 people turned up. The party leaders said besides rain, another reason for low participation was the Chief Minister’s early arrival. He came to the meeting one hour before the scheduled time. He was accompanied by Civil Supply Minister Pratap Keshari Deo and legislators Prafulla Ghadei and Prasant Muduli. Local legislator Bishnu Das presided over the meeting. Naveen Patnaik read out the names of 21 candidates who have been selected by the party to contest the ULB election.
Enlisting development measures taken by BJD during its term, he appealed to the people to vote in favour of BJD. He said, “Development can be possible only if you cast your vote for BJD.” Patnaik also strongly criticised Congress led UPA Government at the Centre for step-motherly attitude towards Odisha in the rail budget, mining and special State status. “Our BJD party has vowed to intensify the agitation against Union Government to fulfil our demands,” he said. Other Ministers and legislators said the BJD will do well in the ULB polls in the State as Congress has no strength to contest with BJD.Meanwhile, BJP and Independent candidates have sought the intervention of State Election Commissioner to take action against Patnaik for violating the model code of conduct by using school premises.
‘Government determined to mitigate poverty’
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday said the Government is determined to mitigate poverty from the State.
Addressing a public gathering at Pattamundei, he said after BJD came to power, the State has progressed in all sectors. For mitigating poverty, the Government has launched `1-per-kg rice scheme, Madhusudan Pension Yojana, Mo Kudia and other such programmes, Naveen said, adding that unemployed youths in the State would get jobs once industries are set up. The Chief Minister also flayed the UPA Government at the Centre for rising prices of essential commodities and Opposition parties in the State for trying to scuttle industrialisation in the State.