Pipili Bypoll: BJP's Jay Panda Anguished As Constituents Still Deprived Of Fani Assistance

Puri: Expressing his displeasure over denial of financial compensation meant for the victims of Fani Cyclone in 2019, Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Vice President, Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda on Sunday said that it is very painful to see people of Pipili still using plastic polythene as roof to their home.

Panda who joined BJP candidate Ashrit Pattanayak’s campaign trail for Pipili By-elections on Sunday said, “During my campaign I witnessed many Fani damaged houses with polythene roofs. It was really sad to see that even after two years of the cyclone, the beneficiaries are yet to receive financial assistance from Odisha Government.”

“It is particularly unfortunate that, even after the Centre paying all necessary funds to the State government, the beneficiaries are still deprived of the payment,” said Panda.

Panda further alleged that the beneficiaries in the constituency are demanded bribe by the local authorities in exchange for Fani assistance.

“People of Pipili have been neglected for long and I am sure our party will do exceptionally well in this election,” said the senior BJP leader.

Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal also fired its campaign on all cylinders with many of the party heavyweights including Minister Sushant Singh, MP Pratap Deb, MLA Snehangini Churia, Prabhat Biswal and Sanjay Das Burma joining candidate Rudra Pratap Maharathy to seek votes for the ruling party.

As far as the Congress party is concerned, party’s election campaign continued in the constituency despite its candidate Ajit Mangaraj being infected with Coronavirus.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)