BHUBANESWAR: With just three days to go for the four phase polls in Odisha to kick off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a massive roadshow in the state capital of Bhubaneswar, calling upon the people to vote for the BJP.
The two-and-half kilometre stretch from BJP state headquarters to Vani Vihar Square turned into a sea of saffron as thousands thronged the entire throroughfare on both sides to catch a glimpse of the prime minister. The roar of welcome reverberated with chants of ‘Modi Modi’ and ‘Double Engine’ as supporters, adorned in saffron caps and waving flags, fervently showed their support for the prime minister.
The saffron party too spared no expense in turning the roadshow into a vibrant celebration. A group of 150 women, adorned in Odisha’s traditional weave Pasapalli sarees, led the prime minister’s convoy while traditional dances and songs marked the procession at different locations to showcase the cultural richness of the state. From the historic revocation of Article 370 to the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and launching of Vande Bharat trains, the roadshow was replete with themes of the party’s accomplishments.
As the roadshow came to an end, a visibly enthused Modi reiterated that lotus will bloom in Odisha this time.”Odisha has a reached a turning point as people of the state are determined to make lotus bloom here this time,” he told a media channel.
Launcing a scathing attack on the ruling BJD, the PM said the fragrance of Odia soil or culture is not seen in the current government. Odias now feel cut off from the state government which has failed to establish any connect with the them. “In such a situation, it is the responsibility of BJP to connect with the people of the state to fulfill their hopes and aspirations,” he said.
Speaking on the BJP-BJD alliance that didn’t work out in the state, the PM said, they have been two separate parties and contesting elections separately for a long time. “The BJP only gets issue-based support from BJD in the Parliament, while in state the saffron party has always fought against them,” he said.
He also referred to Odisha in a series of posts on X and counted the contribution of his government at the Centre to Odisha’s all-round development. “It is a great pleasure to be blessed by the people of Odisha in the magnificent roadshow organized in Bhubaneswar this evening. Akshaya Tritiya, a major festival of Odisha, makes it even more special. Our government will continue to work for the welfare of Odisha and Odia people,” he posted.
He said, in the last 10 years, the central government has got the opportunity to improve the standard of living of the people of Bhubaneswar. Along with various road projects, the Tangi-Bhubaneswar section of National Highway No 16 has been upgraded by four-lane connectivity. Various highway projects are in progress which will improve connectivity between West and East Odisha, he said.
“Our government has also worked to improve the education sector in Odisha and Bhubaneswar. It was during our tenure that the National Institute of Science Education and Research was dedicated to the nation. IIT-Bhubaneswar has also got its own campus which will enable the institute to cater to the needs of students and become a hub of innovation,” he posted.
“While our government has done extensive work, the BJD has become completely detached from the reality at the grassroot level. They completely misunderstand the great culture and ethos of Odisha. It is no surprise that, people of Bhubaneswar and Odisha are supporting the BJP in record numbers,” he said.
State BJP president Manmohan Samal and party’s Bhubaneswar candidate Aparajita Sarangi also joined the PM in the roadshow, his second in the last five years.
“The atmosphere was electrifying and it felt like we were part of some big celebration. My entire family came here to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister,” said Druba Charan Sahu, a resident after the PM left for Raj Bhavan where he will spend the night. On Saturday, Modi is scheduled to address the election rallies at Kandhamal, Balangir and Bargarh.