Bargarh/ Gaisilet: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Friday kick started his campaign for upcoming Bijepur bypoll from Gaisilet town of Bargarh district.
The saffron party has fielded Sanat Gartia for this seat Bijepur. Pradhan held a public meeting to support his candidature and urged the public to vote for him.
At an election planning meeting held in Talapali, Dharmendra trained his guns at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through his address. Pointing to Patnaik’s decision to abdicate the seat after winning it, the union minister questioned his motive behind the move.
“The Chief Minister had promised to take up the responsibility of Bijepur. He has been doing so since 2018 bypoll and even contested from this Assembly constituency in the last general elections. The people of Bijepur too counted on him and voted him. But the CM resigned from Bijepur seat. Why not Hinjli,” Pradhan asked.
“The CM had announced he would ensure overall development of Bijepur. But the basic facilities such as healthcare, irrigation and drinking water supply have caved in,” he added. Besides, he asked the people to cast their votes in favour of Gartia.
Among others, Bargarh Lok Sabha MP Suresh Pujari, BJP state president Basant Panda, Loisingha MLA Mukesh Mahaling, ex-MLA Pradeep Purohit, KV Singhdeo, BJP state vice president Aswini Sarangi and several other district level leaders were present in the meetings.
PNN