Bhubaneswar: Asserting that BJD will sweep the polls with 90-95% strike rate, party leader V K Pandian on Tuesday lashed out at BJP accusing it of trying to mislead people with nine ‘self-goals’, which are detrimental to Odisha’s interests.
Claiming that the people of Odisha will reject BJP for its self-goals, BJD star campaigner told reporters that the saffron party’s self-goals include dragging Lord Jagannath and the 12th century Puri shrine into political discourse.
Stating that the people of Odisha do not appreciate this approach, Pandian said that bringing Lord Jagannath an electoral issue will cost BJP dearly in the polls.
Moreover, people do not like the way leaders of BJP are using abusive language against Naveen Patnaik, considered the most popular Chief Minister of the country.
On Odisha visits of top leaders of BJP and Congress for election campaign, the BJD leader said the leaders coming from outside are always welcome. However, when they cross the limit and abuse the popular Chief Minister, the people of Odisha take it to their heart. “It is going to help the BJD,” he claimed.
Claiming that BJP has announced in poll manifesto its plan to wind up Mission Shakti, Pandian said the saffron party is hatching a conspiracy to close Mission Shakti as well as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) and introduce Ayushman Bharat Yohana in Odisha. While 90 per cent of the people are being benefited by BSKY, Ayushman Bharat is meant only for BPL families, he said.
Similarly, BJD government has introduced 5T schools and colleges with a focus on the young generation, while Nua O scholarship has also been launched. However, BJP which has no such proposal, will scrap these benefits for students, he claimed.
While Special Development Council (SDC) has been formed by the BJD regime for the development of tribals, no such system exists in states having BJP’s double-engine government, he said.
Alleging that BJP-ruled states are witnessing law and order problems, Pandian said the saffron party has inducted several leaders who were thrown out from BJD for alleged involvement in criminal activities.
Claiming that BJP has been rattled by BJD’s promise to provide free electricity, he said the saffron party is talking about solar power, which is bound to become a big fiasco like its earlier promise for free cooking gas.
Terming BJP’s promise to raise MSP for paddy to Rs 3100 per quintal as misleading, the BJD leader said the saffron party government at the Centre has been evading the issue for the last ten years. He also called BJP’s proposed Subhadra Yojana with Rs 50,000 voucher to women another misleading promise.
Claiming that BJP has no presence in Odisha, Pandian said BJD has already secured majority to again form government in the state after three rounds of polls with 80-85 per cent strike rate.
After the fourth and final phase slated on June 1, the ruling BJD’s strike rate will further rise to 90-95 per cent, he claimed.
