CM Naveen out to cash in on Bijepur triumph

Barpali: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his first visit to Bijepur constituency after his party's triumph in the recently-concluded bypoll made his intentions amply clear that BJD will be using its landslide victory as a platform to strengthen its base in Western Odisha.

During his visit to Bijepur, CM Naveen laid foundation stones of as many as 20 development projects in the area.

Earlier in the day, Patnaik had inaugurated the Sambalpur-Rourkela Biju Expressway in Jharsuguda that will connect eight districts of Western Odisha with Southern Odisha.

He further informed that work on a super specialty cardiac care hospital and two housing projects for workers in Jharsuguda is underway as part of infrastructural development in Western Odisha.

The CM while addressing a gathering at a special programme 'Bijepur Juhar' at Barpali in Bargarh district, assured to fulfil the commitments his party had made ahead of the by-election. He thanked the residents of the constituency for choosing the path of development and guaranteed to personally monitor the development works of Bijepur starting today.

“The fight will continue on issues such as Mahanadi water, special category state status, GST exemption on handloom products and various other demands,” said Patnaik.

On the other hand, both Congress and the BJP slammed the visit of the Chief Minister questioning if he is really concerned for the farmers of the district.

"The Chief Minister has gone to greet the people of Bijepur but he did not visit the house of a single farmer or expressed his concern for them," said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) spokesperson Lalatendu Mohapatra.

"Will the Chief Minister visit the house of the person who was forced to commit suicide, will he visit the house of Brunda Sahu? Is he going to do something about the Central projects coming to Odisha for handloom sector?" questioned BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.