Vikash Sharma

Koraput: Even though the Election Commission is yet to announce the dates for the general elections in Odisha, major political parties have already started campaigning. The ruling-Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha has set out to woo voters of the Telugu community in Jeypore by organising an event.

Several singers and popular Tollywood actor Venu Madhav enthralled audiences during the event, which was attended by hundreds of people from the Telugu community. “I am happy to visit Odisha and thank organisers and people of Jeypore,” said Madhav.

However, opposition parties alleged that the BJD organised such event following speculation that TDP might field candidates in Odisha in the upcoming elections. “It is just a political stunt as nothing has been done by BJD for the Telugu community in the past several years,” said BJP leader Anup Patra.

Senior Congress leader, Tara Prasad Bahinipati said “The way the State government recently announced sops and organised the programme, it is really shameful. They (BJD) are scared of TDP, Congress and BJP.”

Responding to opposition allegations, BJD leader Rabi Nanda stated, “There is no mark of TDP in Odisha and Jeypore in particular. We have been organising several meetings for different fronts and communities in the past.”

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