Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched his first election campaign in Western Odisha from Patnagarh on Friday.
Harping on Vikash (development) and Swabhimaan (self-respect), Naveen urged people to vote for BJD candidates in the coming elections. Hitting out at the BJP, he said the saffron party does not understand the language of Seva (social service).
Stating that BJP has no chance of forming government at the Centre, Naveen said it will be the regional parties that would play a crucial role. He urged the gathering to vote for BJD and allow Odisha in playing a greater role in national politics.
The Chief Minister reiterated his commitment for development of backward areas and welfare of the poor and downtrodden. Flanked by BJD nominee for Patnagarh Prakruti Devi Singhdeo and Balangir BJD Lok Sabha candidate Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo, Naveen said it was Biju Babu who had first mooted special programme for development of KBK region. He added that his Government was providing sufficient funds to expedite development process in the region.
Maintaining that Lower Suktel Irrigation Project, rail connectivity between Balangir and Khurda and medical college in Balangir will soon help realise the dream of people of the region, the Chief Minister said adding that his focus was to provide irrigation to all the agriculture land in the district. He also raked up the role of Opposition post-Phailin and questioned their whereabouts when the State was caught in natural disaster.
The BJD supremo held three election rallies at Patnagarh, Kuhibahal and Ghunsar to campaign for BJD candidates of Patnagarh, Titlagarh and Kantabanji Assembly constituencies.
In the 2009 Assembly poll, BJD had lost all these three seats. While Patnagarh seat went to KV Singhdeo of BJP, Surendra Singh Bhoi (Congress) won from Titlagarh and Santosh Singh Saluja of Congress from Kantabanji.
On the occasion, former Congress MLA of Patnagarh, Bibekananda Meher and State executive member of Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) Jatish Khamari joined BJD with their supporters. Similarly at Titlagarh, tribal leader Braja Singh Bhoi, Santosh Jani and others joined BJD and in Kantabanji, more than 20 Congress and BJP workers joined the ruling party.
BJD’s Prakruti is in the poll battle fighting against her brother in-law KV Singhdeo and Congress candidate Kishore Parichha.