BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today asked the BJD's elected panchayat representatives from Keonjhar district to gain the confidence of the people by solving problems faced by
them.
The chief minister reviewed the performance of BJD in the recently concluded panchayat polls in Keonjhar district and assured the elected representatives that issues raised by them will be solved.
Naveen asked the elected representatives to ensure that benefits from the welfare programmes launched by the state government reached the poor and needy people.
While BJD had won 25 out of the 37 Zilla Parishad zones in the district, BJP had won six while six others had gone to independents and others. BJD had maintained that the lead in the panchayat samiti polls by winning the post of panchayat samiti chairperson in seven out of 12 blocks while one block had gone to BJP. The post of panchayat samiti
chairperson was won by independent and others in five blocks.
The elected representatives drew the chief minister's attention to the weak organisational base of the party at some places and alleged that in many cases MLAs are also not extending the required support to resolve various problems.
Besides, they also raised several problems which have remained unresolved including drinking water shortage, power crisis and defunct lift irrigation points.
BJD vice-president and spokesperson Surya Narayan Patro called upon the elected panchayat representatives to take steps to ensure that benefits of welfare programmes reached the people. Finance minister Pradip Kumar Amat, minister of state for panchayatiraj Arun Sahu, BJD MLAs from Keonjhar district including rural development minister Badrinarayan Patro, party MLA Debasis Samantray and state working committee member Bijay Nayak were present.