Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the BJP’s electoral success in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
In the morning, Naveen rang up Modi and congratulated him. On the other hand, the BJP, the principal opposition in Odisha, is optimistic about the upcoming general elections. It believes that the election result in the three states, particularly Chhattisgarh's electoral outcome, will have an impact on Odisha.
Addressing a media conference here, state BJP president Manmohan Samal said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity is at its peak. The people of Odisha have already shown their inclination towards the BJP. Their sentiments will be reflected in the 2024 general election.”
Samal said: “The electoral results in MP, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh are just a trailer. The BJD will see the full movie in the 2024 elections.”
Narendra Modi. File picture
The party president also came down heavily on the BJD government for its failure to effectively utilise the funds provided by the Centre over the last nine years, amounting to Rs 19 lakh crore. “Had the money been properly utilised, it would have brought a big change in Odisha,” Samal said, adding that approximately 1.5 crore youths migrated to other states for employment.
Samal said that the Odisha government has failed to grasp the sentiments of the people, citing the government’s failure to make an inventory of the ornaments of the 12th-century Puri Shree Jagannath Temple.
The state BJP president also took a swipe at the BJD for the induction of former IAS officer V.K. Pandian into the party and giving him a cabinet status rank.
Another BJP senior leader Pradeep Purohit accused the BJD of investing substantial funds in Chhattisgarh for the electoral defeat of the BJP. “The BJD is scared. The BJP’s wave will reach the coastal belt through western Odisha, adjacent to Chhattisgarh,” said Purohit, adding that the BJD should know that its “death knell” is sounding.
The BJP was the coalition partner of the BJD till the 2009 general election.
Tiger kills woman in Bihar forest
Patna: A 55-year-old woman was killed in a tiger attack on the outskirts of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran district of Bihar. The forest department officials found her body in a search operation late on Sunday.
The incident occurred at Mandiha village, close to the Govardhana Range of VTR division – I. The victim has been identified as one Chilhoria Devi belonging to the Oraon tribe.
Chilhoria had gone to graze her cattle on Sunday afternoon, but did not return home at dusk. Her family members raised an alarm and started searching for her. They also informed the VTR officials.
DEV RAJ
