BJD Counters BJP’s Poll Promise With Front Page Ad

Bhubaneswar: A day after the BJP released its poll manifesto with a pledge to transform Odisha into a model state, the ruling BJD government came out with a full-page ad in major dailies to expose the saffron party’s track-record in implementing poll promises.

The front page ad appeared a veritable report card of BJP’s 2014 manifesto and the results achieved. It had point by point mention of the proposals made in 2014 and how BJD scored over them in fulfilling its own set of goals.

Take for example the issue of special category status. While BJP manifesto of 2014 promised to implement it, the ad said: “totally forgotten, complete silence on it now”.

The saffron party had promised to give Rs five lakh each to the SHG groups, but the ad said: “not a single rupee given”.

The promise of inland water transport and garlanding of rivers “were like dreams of snowfall in hot sun”.

The BJP had promised Rs 1000 as monthly pension for the widows. However, “after five years, it is only Rs 300 per month. Naveen Patnaik increased it to Rs 500”.

Asked for this reaction, state BJP vice president Samir Mohanty termed the ad as the “joke of the year”. Talking to Odisha Bytes he said the full-page ad is an “attempt to cover up the inefficiencies of the BJD government” which had ruled the state for 19 years. He added that Odisha received lakhs of crores during the 14th finance commission, but the state government has had a pathetic record in utilising them.

Questioning the logic of the ad, he said: “How could we have implemented the poll promises when we are not in power”.

While the BJP had promised world-class hospital in all districts, the ad claimed that not a single hospital received any funds because the grants under the National Rural Health Mission was reduced.

BJP had also promised a slum dwellers rehabilitation policy. The fact is no such policy was made. “Naveen Patnaik started JAGA mission for them”.

The ad was carried out by both English and local dailies on the front page.