BHUBANESWAR: With the 2019 general and assembly elections approaching fast, BJD leaders have been going all out to ensure that their first definitive grass roots connect effort ahead of the polls, the 'Janasampark Padayatra', is a success in their respective constituencies.
The party targets every household in the state as part of the month-long exercise launched by BJD president and CM
Naveen Patnaik on October 2.
The foot march has also become a platform for many leaders of the ruling party to show off their strength. The number of supporters drawn in a march is a direct measure of their popularity. Many senior BJD leaders and ministers have therefore chosen to remain in their constituencies to participate in the padayatra programme.
"Though we conduct the padayatra every year from
Gandhi Jayanti to
Jayaprakash Narayan Jayanti on October 11, we have taken up some additional activities this year. We are receiving tremendous response from the people," said BJD vice-president Surya Narayan Patro.
Patro, who is also the food supplies and consumer welfare minister, said party workers have been creating awareness on the state government's Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana and the state's own food security act.