BHUBANESWAR: The visit of BJP national president Amit Shah has lifted the spirit of party leaders and workers here ahead of the panchayat polls next month.
Shah, who was in Odisha to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of Bimala temple at Govardhan Peetha in Puri, visited the party office here and discussed panchayat polls with State office-bearers. He is reported to have advised party leaders to continue aggressive campaigning against BJD by raising the corruption issue.
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram and Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said Shah asked party leaders to work hard to get the desired results in the ensuing panchayat polls.
"Besides the increase in the number of candidates, he (Shah) was apprised about the changed political situation in the State," Oram said and added, "We also hope that the election results will be as expected." Shah's suggestions to party leaders will be helpful during the panchayat polls, he said.
Pradhan, who accompanied Shah during the tour, said the national president took stock of the political situation in Odisha. "He (Shah) guided the party leaders on BJPs's future approach towards BJD and discussed strategies for the approaching panchayat elections," Pradhan said. "There was no specific agenda. But naturally, when the party president is here, we expect him to guide us on party matters," he said and added that Shah visit will definitely encourage party workers.
This was the third visit of Shah to Odisha after he took over as the national president of BJP. In a public meeting here, Shah had asked party workers to throw the BJD Government to the Bay of Bengal and show the trailer in the panchayat polls. He had also asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to give an account of his achievements during the 17-year BJD Government in Odisha.