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Bhubaneswar: Preparing the pitch for a high-voltage campaign ahead of the 2019 general elections, the State Bharatiya Janata Party is geared up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24 for the Janasambad Mahasamabesh, in what could boost the party’s prospects in Odisha.
Modi’s vision of ‘Purvodaya’- Development of North East including Odisha was welcomed by all party members who are now focusing on the coastal belt of Odisha. The PM's scheduled Janasambad Samabesh in Khurda is also considered a part of the party's strategy to strengthen the BJP in constituencies which are comparatively less strong than the ones in the West Odisha.
The party’s focus shifted to coastal Odisha this year in May when Modi visited Cuttack during the fourth anniversary celebrations of the BJP-led government at the Centre. His visit was soon followed by Shah’s, who lambasted CM Naveen while highlighting the failures of BJD, during national executive meeting of the BJP Mahila Morcha at Puri. Now again, choosing Khurda for the mega public rally this month, certainly indicates the party’s plans to hold grip on all parts of the state thus strengthening speculation of Modi fighting elections from Puri.
Not only this, the saffron outfit has plans to segregate the State into four distinct zones to raise slogans of tranformation (Parivartan) through its Rath Yatra rallies scheduled to kick-off in January. Party national president Amit Shah along with senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and other political heavy weights are likely to join the Rath Yatra processions.
Claiming that democracy is being murdered in Odisha and that there is a concerted effort to choke the democratic processes here, the party is of the opinion that these Parivartan Rath Yatra rallies will give BJP a big surge in the State ahead of the polls.
During his last visit, Modi had targeted Naveen Patnaik-led BJD for allegedly being involved in PC culture and other corrupt activities. This time too he is likely to go full blaze against Naveen while sounding poll bugle during the mega event.
"As per plans, four Rath Yatras would be organised and the Parivartan Yatras will include programmes presided over by senior leaders including party president Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani and many others," said BJP State General Secretary, Prithviraj Harichandan.
However, BJD and the Congress have stated that Modi's visit will have no impact on the political scenario in Odisha.
BJD vice-president Bimbadhar Kuanr said, "This will not impact BJD, rather the programmes being organised by the BJD will influence and affect them severely. It's good, they are doing their work and we are doing ours."
On the other hand, senior Congress leader Suresh Routray said, "There’s no problem if PM Modi is coming to Khurda. He should come with a slew of projects. But if he is coming only for party prospects, then his visit would be considered a failure."
Meanwhile, BJP's newly-joined member and former IAS officer Aparajita Sarangi has spread her wings by interacting with common masses to share their problems. She has also been visibly garnering support during her Jana Paramarsha Padyatras in and around the city.
Sarangi said, "Bringing schemes for people is just a matter of one day. But what I am seeing is the lack of implementation of such schemes and through interactions and meeting with people, I could see there are problems which need to be sorted out."
It is important to note that since 2014, Modi has visited Odisha as many as seven times and kept his attacks on the BJD, particularly during his Jharsuguda visit, strong and impactful.
