Major political parties including BJP, BJD and Congress have intensified their campaign ahead of the second phase polls in Odisha. While the BJD supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hit the campaign trail in Rourkela today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a public meeting in Bolangir. BJP’s Om Birla took the lead for the party in Balasore on Wednesday.
From free electricity to development and lakhpati women, the leaders left no stone unturned to influence the voters while making a series of promises.
At a public meeting in Rourkela, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik stated that there will be no electricity bill from July as BJD government will make electricity free. Naveen Targets Opposition The BJD chief also took the opportunity to target the opposition.
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“The Opposition parties are telling lies and shedding crocodile tears,” said Patnaik while urging people to vote for the conch party candidates.
“Is the BSKY, Mission Shakti Yojana, new bus service, Mamata Yojana, 5T Schools, scholarships for students, KALIA scheme and others good?” Patnaik asked people during the campaign.
Rahul Gandhi Attacks BJP, Maintains Silence On BJD
The Congress organised a ‘Jan Ashirwad Sabha’ in Bolangir which was attended by senior leader Rahul Gandhi, PCC president Sarat Pattanayak, Narasingha Mishra, Santosh Singh Saluja, party’s state-in-charge Ajoy Kumar and others.
Rahul Gandhi targeted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre in his address. However, the senior Congress leader refrained from making any attack on the ruling BJD government here. Though Rahul Gandhi had earlier attacked the BJD in his previous meeting in Salepur, he maintained err silence this time in Bolangir.
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“BJP leaders claim that if they win the elections, they will amend the Constitution. I want to tell every leader and worker of BJP that no power in the world can touch the book. BJP waived off loans of 22 industrialists to the tune of Rs 1600 lakh crore. The government is not working for the people but only for a handful of influential people,” Gandhi alleged.
According to Rahul Gandhi, “The INDI alliance government will be formed on June 4 and a list of poor people including backward classes, minority, labourers and others will be prepared. The list of the people will of those whom the Modi government made poor. Each poor woman from these families will get Rs 1 lakh annually. They will get first installment of Rs 8500 in July and similar amount in subsequent months. Now this is called Vikas as Congress will make scores of women lakpatis.”
Guaranteed MSP And Loan Waiver For Farmers: Rahul Gandhi
“The Congress will waive off loans of the farmers and provide guaranteed MSP for paddy and other crops. Farmers will no longer have to wait for months to get crop insurance as they will get it within 30 days. In Odisha, a lot of families are engaged in MNREGA and Anganwadi. Centre is providing Rs 250 under MNREGA but once the INDIA alliance comes to power, they will get Rs 400,” promised Gandhi.
Om Birla in Balasore
While addressing a programme in Balasore, senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, “India is developing in all sectors and now it is a nation that doesn’t import, rather export a lot of products including food items, electronics and other items. Today, youths of the country are leading and taking up challenges through start-ups.”
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Odisha has tremendous potential and the people here want a change. People want to see the BJP government at the Centre and as well as in Odisha. Under PM Modi’s leadership, there has been a lot of development in the country. People of the country have faith on PM Modi’s leadership and policies that have taken our nation to new heights, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.