Bargarh/ Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday assured the people of creating a new identity for Bijepur assembly constituency within a year.
Patnaik, who had a night halt at the Circuit House at the district headquarters on Tuesday, arrived at Gaisilat Block in a helicopter in the morning and addressed a public meeting.
He said he is personally monitoring development of Bijepur constituency and the state government will take up all development works in the constituency. While requesting the people to vote for his party candidate Rita Sahu, he assured that his government would to create a new identity for the people of Bijepur within a year.
Referring to the ongoing Mahanadi issue, the Chief Minister said the state government’s fight on the Mahanadi issue is on and will continue. “The Supreme Court has given us the justice on Mahanadi issue, forcing the Centre to form the Mahanadi Tribunal,” he added.
From Gaisilat, the Chief Minister visited Bijepur block and presided over a party meeting. Later, he visited different areas of the block for campaigning.
Following the shoe-hurling incident on Tuesday, security was tightened for the Chief Minister.
The BJP also had a hectic campaign in Bijepur constituency.
After the visit of Union Ministers Smriti Irani, Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan and other senior party leaders, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ram Kripal Yadav arrived in Bijepur on Wednesday morning to canvass for party nominee Ashok Panigrahi.
After taking part in a road show at Gaisilat, he addressed a public meeting there. Yadav, however, survived a scare when the stage on which he was about to address a public meeting at Jagalphata village caved in. No one was injured.
Referring to the shoe-hurling case, Yadav maintained that BJP never indulges in such shameful act. He said the incident was a reflection of growing resentment of the people against the BJD government.
Among others, senior BJP leaders of Odisha and Ollywood stars including Mihir Das, Anu Choudhury, Aparajita Mohanty, Sritam Das and Pinki Pradhan accompanied the Union Minister in the poll campaign.
The Congress campaign was bereft of star value with party candidate Pranaya Sahu depending on state party leaders including OPCC president Prasad Harichandan and leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra to boost his fortunes.
