In 2000, we toppled the Congress government. Now, we have taken a vow to topple the BJD, said newly appointed Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal on Sunday.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organized a grand ceremony at the party office in Bhubaneswar to welcome and felicitate Samal.
Terming the coming general election to be a historical one, the party chief launched a broadside against the BJD-led dispensation and said, “When the common people become angry and dead set on doing something, no one can stop them. They are now angry with the government. In 2000, we vowed to topple the Congress government. This time, we have pledged to topple the BJD government.”
Alleging that the BJD has destroyed a political system in Odisha, Samal said Naveen Babu knows the art of diverting any issue.
“We may get either three months or six months or nine months. But we are always ready for the election. Neither will we sleep nor will we let anyone sleep. Naveen Babu we will not let you sleep,” he said.
Not only Samal, but all the leaders also trained their guns on the BJD-led government.
Taking a swipe at the conch party, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda said, “You should know why the party workers are so energetic today. They are so because the Bharatiya Janata Party has served a notice to the ruling party. Their (BJD) notice period has started from today and will last till the coming general election,” he said.
“The people of Odisha are looking for a way to do away with you (BJD). The Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Manmohan Bhai has started paving this way. It is once again confirmed that the Bharatiya Janata Party, after toppling the ruling party, will form the government in Odisha under the leadership of Manmohan Bhai,” he added.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra and MPs Jual Oram and Aparajita Sarangi too lambasted the government.
“Be prepared for the coming fight. We will definitely bid adieu to this party (BJD) in 2024,” said Mishra.
“We formed the BJD in 1997. It was formed to get Odisha rid of Congress’ tyranny. But they (BJD) have surpassed the Congress,” said Oram.
MP Sarangi said, “I want to say one thing that a right person is in the right place. In 2024 election, besides winning more and more MP seats, we have to win MLA seats as well. This is our aim.”
On the other hand, the BJD said it doesn’t give a rap for the new BJP chief.
“The party having a new chief will hardly affect the BJD. They appear during election time. But Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is standing beside the people of Odisha through thick and thin,” said BJD leader Ramesh Chandra Chau Patnaik.
At the same time, Congress said a family match is to be seen during the election.
“It his (Manmohan Samal) third term as the president of the State BJP. The BJP and the BJD are two sides of a coin. They have an undeclared coalition. In the coming election, they will fight jointly,” observed Congress leader Jayadev Jena.