With the Panchayat Poll just round the corner, political heavyweights these days can be seen going around the villages, garnering support for their respective party candidates.
Former Union Minister and Balasore MP (BJP) Pratap Sarangi seems to have made it a point to go out of his way to secure victory for his party’s candidates. He, along with the candidates, can be seen moving around the villages, riding bicycles. He is directly interacting with the voters, driving home to them where the State government and the local people’s representatives have failed. He is making people understand the benefits if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is voted to power in grass root level.
The saffron party’s another leader, State BJP Pravari D. Purandeswari is also pulling out all the stops to see her party candidates winning the election with flying colours. The party is also giving priority to digital mode of campaigning. As a part of this, BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda on Thursday conducted a virtual rally, asking people to cast their votes for Zilla Parishad candidates in 32 zones and party-supported Sarpanch and Samiti members in Kendrapara district.
He also shared mantras among party workers to achieve success. He asked the workers to take issues like the State government’s corruptions and how the State government is hijacking the Centre’s Yojanas to the people. “The Yojanas that are fully funded by the Central government have been hijacked. They are being projected as those of the State government, launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. People are gradually realizing it that the State government is referring the Modi government’s Yojanas as its own. We have to make people understand this,” Panda said.
Senior BJD leaders are also found pulling their shocks up in the run-up to the Panchayat elections. Starting from Nabarangpur MP Ramesh Majhi to Health Minister Naba Das have been visiting villages to woo voters.
After a hiatus, senior leader Damodar Rout is also seen in the field. Despite the fact that he is not in the BJD any more, Rout is campaigning for party candidates in Gorei Panchayat of Jagatsinghpur district. He can be spotted moving in a vehicle with BJD flag mounted on it. “What we have done for the people is our strength. It goes without saying that Biju Janata Dal’s candidates will register a huge victory across the State,” observed Health Minister Naba Das.
Senior leader Damodar Rout said he had been requested to campaign for the candidates in Gorei Panchayat. “This is why I am here and have asked people to choose good people as their leaders,” Rout added.
The Congress leaders are not lagging behind in carrying out campaigning for their candidates. While Tara Prasad Bahinipati is visiting door to door and conducting meetings, senior leader Suresh Routray is leaving no stones unturned to ensure his party candidates' win.
“We are always with the people. The election will prove whether the BJD has carried out all the developmental projects in the region or the Congress,” said Bahinipati.
“People have already decided to vote us to power for issues like unemployment, price hike and law and order situation. I hope we will win in 14 Zilla Parishad zones,” said the Jatni MLA.
It is to be seen if the efforts of these political heavyweight will pay off.