Naveen Dares BJP To Name Its CM Candidate

Daspalla: BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday dared the BJP to name its chief ministerial candidate and declare from which constituency the candidate is contesting the ongoing polls. Naveen was addressing an election rally at Daspalla in Nayagarh district.

“Is the saffron party afraid to announce its CM candidate?” he asked.

It is worth mentioning that the BJP’s Odisha face, Dharmendra Pradhan, touted as the party’s chief ministerial candidate, had announced that he won’t be contesting the polls. Naveen, a four-time chief minister, is contesting from two seats – Bijepur and Hinjili – this time.

Taking potshots at the saffron party’s double-engine formula to push growth in the state, the BJD chief said: “When election approaches, the Delhi engine appears in Odisha and disappears soon after. Where were they during natural disasters like cyclonic storm Phailin, Hudhud, Titli, drought and floods? The BJP’s Delhi engine visited Andhra Pradesh after Titli, but not Odisha.”

Speaking about KALIA scheme, Naveen said 40 lakh farmers have so far benefited from the scheme in Odisha, but the BJP at the Centre is conspiring to stop financial assistance to beneficiaries under the scheme. “No one can stop the scheme till I am alive. On the day of the formation of the BJD government, farmers will get two installments (Rs 10,000) of KALIA funds at a single go,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister attended a public meeting and conducted a road show at Tumudibandha in Kandhamal district and Polsara in Ganjam district. He also held discussions with Aska MP candidate Pramila Bisoi.