Bhubaneswar: In the run up to the polls, the major Opposition parties in Odisha including the BJP and the Congress are pulling out all stops to woo the voters and at the same time, corner the ruling-Biju Janata Dal (BJD). After the recent ‘Pratisruti Samabesh’, the BJP today launched a ‘Jana Adalat’ (public court) campaign against the Odisha government.
Mock courts will be organised in all Lok Sabha constituencies and local people will ask questions to elected MPs and MLAs about the developmental works, corruption and other issues, informed Odisha BJP vice president, Samir Mohanty. The campaign will conclude on February 17.
Similarly, the Odisha Congress today launched its ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ opposing the alleged anti-people policies of both the State government and the Centre. A mega rally was also organised from Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on the occasion. Several leaders including Sura Routray, Mahila Congress leader Sumitra Jena and others attended the rally.
Responding to the BJP and the Congress, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra stated that both the parties are just trying to hoodwink people. “Instead of conducting 'Jan Adalats,' the BJP leaders should prepare themselves as people are ready with charges against the saffron party. Though BJP had promised in its 2014 manifesto to provide special category status to Odisha, it is yet to fulfil the same,” said Patra.
Patra further alleged that both the BJP and Congress have misled the people of Odisha while BJD is continuing its fight to protect the interests of the State.
“The Congress was in power for 10 years at the Centre and it was silent on Polavaram and the Mahanadi issue. It seems that the Congress only gets active when the elections are round the corner. Similarly, the BJP also supported Andhra Pradesh on Polavaram and remained mum on the Mahanadi issue,” Patra added.