Bhubaneswar: The series of roadshows by the BJP and the ruling BJD in the state capital has surcharged the political atmosphere in the run-up to the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha.
The first roadshow was held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi May 10, when a sea of humanity converged on both sides of the 2.5 km stretch of the busy Janpath in the state capital, from the party office to Vani Vihar.
Thursday morning, BJP National President JP Nadda held another road show in the state capital, which began from Mausima Temple to Lingaraj Temple, with BJP parliamentary candidate Aparajita Sarangi and BJP Ekamra Assembly candidate Babu Singh.
After completing the roadshow, Nadda went to the Lingaraj Temple and offered prayers before leaving for Padampur in Western Odisha, where he addressed a public meeting. He then proceeded to Sundargarh to address another election meeting in support of party candidates.
In the evening, BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, accompanied by bureaucrat-turned-BJD leader V.K. Pandian embarked on a mega road show from the Ganganagar Square to Sishu Bhawan Chhak, passing through several prime areas in the city.
Patnaik sought the people’s support for the party, asking them to vote for BJD candidates in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. “I am delighted to be with the people of Odisha,” the Chief Minister said in a video message before beginning the mega road show.
Thousands of people lined up on both sides of the roadshow route to welcome him, and Patnaik was seen telling the crowd that from July, there would be no electricity bill. The ruling BJD’s manifesto had promised to provide free electricity up to 100 units per month and a 50 per cent subsidy from 100 to 150 units, benefiting what the party claimed to be about 90 per cent of the population.
On the other hand, Nadda during his road show stated that the people of the state have already made up their minds to vote for BJP in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections so that a double-engine government can be formed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his public meetings, had already announced that the countdown for the exit of the BJD government has started and a BJP Chief Minister in Odisha will take oath on June 10 in Bhubaneswar.
Nadda condemned the poll violence at Khallikote in Ganjam district on Wednesday night, in which a BJP worker was killed and three others were injured.
BJP sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also hold another roadshow in Puri on May 20. Modi will first visit the Sri Jagannath Temple at 7 AM to offer prayer to Lord Jagannath on May 20 before holding the roadshow on the Grand Road of Puri.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a road show in Cuttack city on Wednesday evening, accompanied by the party’s Cuttack Lok Sabha candidate Bhartruhari Mahatab, a six-time MP who recently quit the BJD and joined the BJP. Along with Mahatab, BJP’s Barbati Cuttack MLA Dr. Purna Chandra Mohapatra and other MLA candidates joined the roadshow.
UNI