Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has raised serious concerns over security of BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik during his scheduled road shows and public meetings in Odisha’s Nuapada on Friday.
In a video message, BJD spokesperson Sofia Alam said that the party has apprehensions that certain BJP leaders and workers may attempt to create disturbances, indulge in stone pelting, or engage in acts of violence during Naveen’s visit, his second to the district ahead of the November 11 by-election to the Assembly constituency.
The regional party has submitted a petition in this regard to Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Thursday night, seeking adequate and proper security arrangements to ensure his safety and the smooth conduct of the campaign programme, she informed.
Patnaik, the leader of the opposition, is provided with Y-category security cover.
Sofia added that the overwhelming response to the BJD supremo’s previous rally at Komna on November 3 has rattled the BJP. “The massive congregation proved that the BJD and Naveen babu continue to rule people’s hearts and enjoy their faith,” she asserted, alleging that permission for that meeting was not granted till 1 am.
The Roadshows
The former chief minister, while campaigning for BJD candidate Snehangini Chhuria, will hold a roadshow at Khariar area and cover places like Daga Square, Biju Patnaik Square and Lakhmania Petrol Pump Square. He will also led another roadshow, covering Suryanagar Square, Gayatri Square and Ekta Square, and address a public meeting at Parkod to build further momentum and consolidate voter sentiment ahead of polling day.
Reshaping Bypoll Narrative
On November 3, Naveen’s “Beiman” and “Betrayal” barbs at Komna rally had reshaped the Nuapada by-election narrative. He had accused the BJP of “vote chori’ to form the government and poaching candidates, referring to Jay Dholakia who entered the saffron fold within weeks of his father’s death which necessitated the bypoll. “This is a betrayal of the people, of the Biju Janata Dal, and of me personally,” he declared, urging voters to deliver a fitting reply on November 11.
This twin visit to Nuapada, something Naveen had avoided during bypolls in recent years, is being seen as an attempt to show his intent to go for a direct clash with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is leading the BJP charge, and Bhakta Charan Das, the state Congress chief, while ensuring that the party projects a united face after the 2024 electoral debacle.
Who was the betrayer at Bijepur?
CM Majhi also held a roadshow at Koma in Nuapada assembly segment on Thursday during which he launched a counter attack on BJD, accusing Naveen of “betraying” the trust of the people of Nuapada and neglecting party’s sitting Nuapada MLA Rajendra Dholakia during his illness.
“When your party fielded the kin of a Congress leader in the Bijepur by-election, was that not betrayal?” Majhi asked while addressing a massive gathering after a high-octane roadshow at Komna.
He also questioned Naveen’s choice of words for BJP’s Nuapada candidate Jay Dholakia. “The former CM is too image-conscious to use the word himself. Perhaps, it was his scriptwriter’s idea,” he added.
The BJP has also weaponized Chhuria’s “outsider” image, turning it into a rallying cry. Its campaign slogan — “Hamare area mein jiska nahi Aadhaar card, uski yahan parchi fad” (“Tear up the voter slip of anyone who doesn’t belong to Nuapada”) — is seen as an attempt to strike a chord among the voters.