Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD launched its Jan Sampark Padayatra on Gandhi Jayanti on Sunday to sensitise the people about its various developmental initiatives in the State.
Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik kicked off the mass contact drive at Samantarapur Nuagaon here in the Capital city. The exercise, which continued for 10 days from Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) to Jayaprakash Narayan Jayanti (October 11) every year, will continue for a month this year.
"The padayatra proramme has begun so well today. The padayatras are to inform the people about government's welfare programmes and also central government's neglect particularly in river Mahanadi and polavaram issues", Naveen Patnaik said.
Tourism minister Ashok Panda said- "The Jansampark Padayatra kicked off today in Ekamra Assembly constituency in presence of CM Naveen Patnaik and other leaders. This padayatra is not confined to the march, but it has turned into a 'Sankalp Yatra".
The march will be undertaken by the party leaders in every block and panchayat across the State for which 147 party observers have been appointed.
Meanwhile, MLA Raseswari Panigrahi launched the people's contact programme in her home constituency in which many party leaders took part.
Party leaders said they will reach people with a message of Centre stopping the flow and central negligence over Mahanadi and Polavaram issues.
Similarly, Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda and district party president Dhruba Sahu held the padyatra at Rajnagar assembly constituency.
Panda said, “We talked about how well the programmes of the State government can be implemented. We believe people across the sections will definitely acknowledge the efforts of the State government.”
In Jeypore, senior BJD leader Rabinarayan Nanda participated in the padyatra.
Nanda said, “The padyatra has nothing to do the ensuing panchayats poll. Every year we are organising this activity.”
Meanwhile, the BJP is all set to launch Lajja Satyagrha at all subdivisions across the state targeting the BJD government.
According to sources, the saffron party will target the BJD government over the deteriorating law and order situation, health, transportation state.
Also read: BJD, Cong, BJP all set for October slugfest
Besides, the opposition party will also raise Nagada and Dana Majhi issue in its Lajja Satyagrha, the sources added.