BHUBANESWAR: THE Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday alleged that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has a tacit understanding with the Congress to stall all developmental programmes launched by the NDA Government at Centre. Launching posters and audio CDs ahead of the elections to the three-tier panchayati raj institutions, national BJP general secretary and Odisha in-charge Arun Singh said his party has made an attempt to explain to the people of the State through songs and music how the BJD and Congress have jointly obstructed the progress of Odisha for their narrow political gain.
While listing out major achievements of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre, the BJP has chosen to play songs to the tune of popular numbers in an attempt to expose the failures of BJD Government to woo voters. Dubbing the Congress as a puppet in the hand of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Singh said the nexus between the national party and BJD is the prime reason for poor development of the State during the UPA rule at the Centre.
Leaders of BJD have benefited while people living in villages have lost hope under Naveen rule. The Central assistance provided directly to panchayats is not reaching the intended beneficiaries as the funds are being channelised through MLAs and MPS of the ruling party, he added. Congress, on many occasions in the past, has made a similar allegation of a BJD-BJP secret pact. The BJD, on the other hand, said the BJP is frustrated because of growing popularity of Naveen Patnaik. The people know who is working for them and are wise enough to vote for them, said senior party leader SN Patro.