Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik starts exercise to tone up BJD organisation ahead of 2019 polls

BHUBANESWAR: As the BJP has stepped up activities in the state for the next elections, BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik has started review of organisational preparedness of the party in different districts.

The chief minister today reviewed the performance of party MLAs, MPs and ministers of Sundargarh, Cuttack, Puri and Bolangir districts. Sources said the party supremo wanted differences in the district units to be sorted out, formation of ward committees to be completed and proper implementation of the `Ama Gaon, Ama Unnati programme' during his interaction with partymen.

The chief minister has taken strong view of the differences among leaders at the district level. Besides, he is reported to have chided some leaders for running a parallel organisation in their areas. So far, he has reviewed the performance of 18 districts. BJD's performance in last panchayat polls and steps taken to improve the organisational base have also been discussed.

As a well thought out strategy, the BJD has decided to celebrate its 20th foundation day at Puri in which 30,000 party office-bearers and workers will attend. The party is planning to launch a mass contact programme from the day, keeping the 2019 general and assembly elections in mind. The programme, 'Agami Odisha ra Bikash Yatra' will be organised in all the assembly constituencies of the state. Besides, a training programme of panchayat workers will also be conducted.

Welfare schemes launched by the state government, social transformation of Odisha under the leadership of the chief minister and neglect of Odisha by successive governments at the Centre would be discussed. The thrust will be to project the BJD as a political party which cares and works for the common people of the state. Senior leaders of the party are working out the detail programme for the foundation day which will be announced after approval from the party president.

Besides its elected representatives, office bearers, district presidents, executive committee and council members, the party is planning to get two to three workers from all 6,800 gram panchayats for the convention.