BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday asked BJD panchayat representatives to work hard to keep people’s faith in the party intact. The CM reviewed the poll performance of BJD in Sundargarh and Deogarh districts where the regional party’s performance was not so impressive.
BJD had won one out of three Zilla Parishad zones in Deogarh district while six zones had gone to BJP. In Sundargarh district, 14 zones out of 35 was won by BJD while BJP and Congress had won 13 and five zones respectively. CPM, CPI and Independents had won one seat each.
In the election to panchayat samiti chairperson post, BJD supported candidates had won in one block while BJP backed candidates won in two blocks. BJD won the panchayat samiti chairperson post in seven blocks followed by Congress in six while Independents won in four blocks.
The panchayat representatives raised issues relating to drinking water shortage, health and improvement of road network in the two districts. Besides, they wanted grassroots organisation of the BJD to be strengthened.
Construction of a barrage on Koel river, a bridge over Tikira river, setting up of megalift irrigation points and creation of irrigation facilities were demanded by the representatives. The CM assured them that their demands will be fulfilled. He said the next review meeting will be held after six months.
BJD vice-president Surya Narayan Patro, general secretary Debasis Samantray, observer for Sundargarh Prabhat Kumar Biswal, former minister Mangala Kissan, former minister and observer for Deogarh Prashant Nanda, party MLAs and senior leaders from two districts attended.