Nuapada bypoll: Minister Pujari targets Naveen’s absence in campaigning

The political atmosphere in Odisha’s Nuapada district intensified on Thursday as parties ramped up campaigning for the upcoming Assembly by-election. However, Minister Suresh Pujari targeted BJD supremo and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik for not campaigning for the party's candidate.

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Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to visit Nuapada for the second time to bolster the BJP’s chances, whereas LoP Naveen Patnaik is yet to join his party’s campaign on the ground.

Taking a jibe at the BJD chief’s absence, Minister Pujari said that a strong Opposition only inspires the government to work harder.

“Naveen Babu should step out of Naveen Niwas. The stronger the Opposition (BJD) will be and the more opportunity Naveen Babu gets to come to ‘maidan’, the harder the (BJP-led) Government will work with higher intensity at the grassroots level of society. We will be more inspired,” the BJP Minister expressed while speaking to mediapersons.

However, no comments were received from the BJD in this regard.

Senior leaders from the BJP, BJD, and Congress have hit the ground, making the region a hotbed of political activity these days.

For the saffron camp, ministers Mukesh Mahaling and Gokulananda Mallik led aggressive campaign drives, while the BJD fielded former ministers Arun Sahu and Tukuni Sahoo to woo the voters in Nuapada Assembly constituency.

On the other hand, Congress deployed its heavyweights, including state in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu, Legislative Party leader Ramchandra Kadam, and MLA Rajan Ekka, who sought support for the party’s candidate.

Reported By: Subham Rohila