Anandapur/Hatadihi/Keonjhar: Coming down heavily on the state government, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that “an inefficient government is running the state now.”
The BJP leader went on a marathon campaign in Keonjhar district, seeking votes for his party nominees in Assembly and Parliamentary seats, Saturday.
Addressing a rally at Chhenapadi in Anandapur Assembly constituency, Pradhan said, “Vote for our party candidates in the elections in the third phase so that a double-engine government as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come to power in the state and at the Centre.”
Narrating a parable, the Union Minister tried to describe Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as a postmaster.
“If the BJP-led NDA government is voted to power again at the Centre, each of a family will be provided a job while meritorious girl students of poor families will get scooties. Various developmental projects pertaining to drinking water, healthcare, road connectivity and houses to each family will be undertaken,” he promised.
Training his guns on the BJD government, Pradhan said, “The BJD government has no issues against the NDA government in the 2019 general elections. It has been accusing the Centre on flimsy grounds. Now is the time for the people to change a corrupt and inefficient government.”
He appealed to the people to vote for party’s MP nominee Ananta Nayak and MLA nominee in Anandapur Assembly seat Alok Sethi.
Over 5,000 party workers attended the meeting. Later, the minister addressed Vijay Sankalp rallies at Murusuan and Telkoi where he campaigned for the MP nominee Ananta Nayak and Telkoi MLA nominee Mohan Majhi.
Pradhan said the Modi government has been working for people of all walks in the state as well as in the country. “Voters have to discharge two duties – vote for MLAs and the MP – to strengthen the work of the Prime Minister,” he added.
Alluding to mining firm Triveni, Pradhan said Naveen Babu has given Odisha such a non-Odia mining firm to run it on a contractual basis.
Pradhan also attacked OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik and linked his complicity in the mineral loot. “Two non-Odias are running the state administration while two Patnaiks have been looting minerals in the district. Naveen Babu has ruled the state for 19 years, but issues of drinking water, unemployment and healthcare have not been redressed,” he said, adding that poor people are migrating to other states in search of work.
He added that mineral looters and chit fund fraudsters will be put behind the bars within three months after the NDA is voted to power.
PNN