BJD counters BJP’s assurances ahead of polls as eyewash

BHUBANESWAR: With the BJP trying its level best to wrest power in Odisha by promising voters land pattas, concrete house and jobs to the poor after assuming power, the ruling BJD on Sunday said the BJP is dubbed as ‘Bharatiya Jumla Party’ by the people.

Accusing the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of being failed to fulfill its promises made before the 2014 polls, senior BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma said the saffron party is trying to mislead the people again with false promises.

At a news conference here, Das Burma said the ‘Pratisruti Samabesh’, a public meeting organised by the BJP here on Saturday to promise a host of welfare measures, was a ‘convention of betrayal’.

“The BJP has promised jobs to youths, pucca houses, land pattas and basic facilities like drinking water, toilet, electricity and LPG connections. It had promised many such things before 2014 polls which were never fulfilled. They have been trying to lure voters again with such false promises,” said Das Burma, adding that ‘such tactics will not work in Odisha.’

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan had lashed out at the state government saying people in Odisha are deprived of basic needs under the BJD rule.

The BJP that has emerged as the main opposition party in Odisha pushing Congress to distant third position, tried to woo the people with slew of promises ahead of polls.

It has also launched an aggressive campaign strategy as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had held multiple rallies in different locations. The party also wants to rope in national level heavyweights to take on the BJD in the forthcoming polls.

To take on the Centre, health minister Pratap Jena, who was also present at the news conference raised issues like special category status to Odisha, two crore jobs per year, Rs 15 lakh to accounts of every Indian, price rise, 50 per cent rise in MSP of paddy over production cost and coastal highway.

“It has neglected Odisha and its interests on issues like Mahanadi, Polavaram and special tag to Odisha. Funds meant for development of backward regions were stopped. Funds were slashed on 33 centrally sponsored schemes while eight others were completed closely,” said Jena.

The party claimed that Odisha has been making rapid progress under the leadership of chief minister Naveen Patnaik despite continuous central neglect.

Alleging that the opposition parties are spreading misinformation against the state government, Nayak said people of Odisha will give a befitting reply to them in the ensuing polls.

Hitting back at the ruling party, BJP leader Golak Mohapatra said the allegations of central neglect has no base as Odisha received highest central aid under Narendra Modi government.