Jharsuguda: As the Odisha unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state to inaugurate several government initiatives, all eyes would be on the saffron party’s agenda and it is believed that the PM could sound the poll bugle during party programmes at Talcher and Jharsuguda.
Modi will visit Odisha on a one-day programme tomorrow where he will launch a slew of projects including a coal-gasification fertiliser plant at Talcher and inaugurate the Jharsuguda airport. He will also dedicate the NTPC and MCL coal mines to nation and launch 53.1 km-long-Jharsuguda-Serdega railway line.
Ahead of his visit, the prime minister took to twitter today and wrote “I look forward to being with my sisters and brothers of Odisha tomorrow. I would visit Talcher to join the programme marking the commencement of work in the Talcher Fertilizer Plant. I will also be in Jharsuguda to inaugurate the local airport.”
“Various projects including the Garjanbahal coal mines and the Jharsuguda-Barapali-Sardega rail link will be dedicated to the nation. The projects in Odisha will benefit the energy sector and enhance connectivity,” he tweeted.
This apart, the PM will also attend party programmes- ‘Vikash Samabesh’ - organised at Talcher and Jharsuguda during which he is likely to brief the public about his government’s achievements and works done for the development of Odisha and eastern India during the last four-and-a-half years of his term.
However, with elections round the corner, all eyes would be on his stance against Odisha's ruling party - BJD.
"Whatever Modi will say, we are prepared to respond. We will also point out his failures," said BJD spokesperson, Pratap Deb.
"We welcome PM's visit, but what is their contribution to Odisha. BJD and BJP squabble in Bhubaneswar but embrace each other in New Delhi. They are like two brothers and they are betraying the people of Odisha," said Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik.