Naveen Patnaik reviews Bijepur bypoll strategy after BJP’s Gujarat and Himachal success

BHUBANESWAR: In the backdrop of BJP's Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reviewed party's strategy for the Bijepur byelection.
The strategy meet, attended by ministers, MLAs, observer and senior leaders from Bargarh, held a day after Naveen put a brave face on impact of BJP's recent electoral success on Odisha.

Though details of the discussion were not revealed, sources said Naveen has pointed out lack of coordination among local BJD leaders as two block level leaders of the party have resigned in past one months. The party has also emphasized on micro-management to grab Bijepur.

"The chief minister asked to work in coordination among our local leaders and party workers," said a leader requesting anonymity.

As the impact of BJP's success in two states, if any, is expected to be seen in the byelection of Bijepur, schedule for which is likely to be announced within a week.

The byelection, necessitated following death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu, may even foreshadow the outcome of the assembly polls in Odisha due in 2019. All three major parties have pulled out all stops to capture the seat.

While BJD has announced to field Rita, wife of the late Congress MLA eyeing the sympathy factor, the Congress and BJP are yet to announce their candidates.

To garner support of the people, Naveen announced a series of sops for the constituency including an irrigation project worth Rs 1246 crore, notified area council tag for Bijepur, sub-registrar office at Bijepur and many more.

When asked, labour and employment minister Sushanta Singh said the party is fully prepared to face the election. "We have already completed panchayat level meeting. Now, our focus is to hold meeting combining leaders from more than one panchayat. We are confident of our victory in Bijepur because of the developmental programme and welfare schemes of the state government," said Singh.

BJD's Bargarh district unit president and former minister Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha said BJP's success in the assembly polls of two states will have no impact on Bijepur because of difference in political equations.

"Naveen Patnaik is a popular leader in Odisha. The state government under his leadership has transformed the state. So, we are sure of our victory," Bariha said.

Regarding the meeting, he said it was convened to discuss on party's plan and way to carry it forward.