CM Naveen set to follow Modi’s campaign trail in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The ruling-BJD in Odisha is leaving no stone unturned to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaigning by conducting government programmes and public meetings in places chosen by the BJP.

As Modi had visited Bolangir on January 15 and Sundergarh on September 22, 2018, the BJD supremo is all set to visit both the places tomorrow. Moreover, CM Naveen will visit Baripada, the district headquarters of tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district on January 30. Modi had addressed a public meeting there on January 5.

As per reports, the regional conference of Biju Yuva Vahini will be conducted in Sambalpur, Koraput, Kandhamal, Balasore and Bhubaneswar. Similarly, conference of the self help groups (SHGs) will also be organised in Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi and Ganjam districts.

BJP General Secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said, “The Odisha CM has not been able to do any development work in last 19 years so we can’t expect anything from this government. There will be no impact of his meetings and programmes on election results.”

“There is a nexus between BJP and BJD. It doesn’t matter how many meetings are organised by PM Modi and CM Naveen; there will be no effect,” Congress spokesperson, Bibhu Prasad Tarai claimed.

On the other hand, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, “Naveen is concerned about every region of the State that’s why he is visiting those places. It is not correct to give it a political colour.”