Naveen Show Vs Modi Rally Continues

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik did it again! For the second consecutive time, he skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official programme in Odisha.

While January 5 had turned into PM’s Baripada Rally vs CM’s Puri state-level convention of women SHGs, Naveen on Tuesday inaugurated five-day Krushi Odisha Sammilani, an annual farmers’ convention, at Baramunda Ground here that coincided with Modi’s public meeting in Balangir.

The Chief Minister, however, had joined the PM at Argul programme in Jatni on December 24, when the latter virtually launched the BJP campaign in Odisha for the 2019 polls by giving a call for making a new Odisha with new energy.

According to political analysts, the BJD has been organising such parallel events to take the sheen off the PM’s frequent visits to Odisha, this being the second this year in less than two weeks.

The saffron party is eyeing a dozen seats in Odisha, where it hopes to make inroads to be able to garner the numbers for a second innings at the Centre. After Mayurbhanj in North Odisha, Balangir was an attempt to further strengthen its base in western parts of the state, where it has a strong presence.

The recent drubbing in the Assembly elections in the Hindi heartland states has prompted the BJP to pursue its ‘Look East Policy’ more vigorously, they added.

The 2019 polls is equally significant for Naveen, with him seeking a fifth term in office. The launch of KALIA scheme was seen by many as an attempt by the state government to win them back as farmers’ issue dominated the recent polls in other states and led to the defeat of the ruling BJP, besides anti-incumbency, there.

Though the Chief Minister continues to hold sway over the electorate, he is aware of the anti-incumbency factor that can well go against the party.

Naveen had announced to provide the loan to the SHGs with zero per cent interest under Mission Shakti programme in Puri. The BJD government is also going all out to seek support for the women quota bill to prove its commitment to their socio-economic development, amid uproar over its failure to ensure the safety of women in the state. This was followed by the announcement of sops for Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Now, Krushi Odisha Sammilani to address the farmers’ issue.

While Modi’s criticism of the Naveen Patnaik government during the rally in Mayurbhanj’s Baripada remained confined to its alleged negligence towards the welfare of women and children, Tuesday’s attack in Balangir over its alleged failure to utilise Rs 4,000 crore extended by the Centre was, however, the sharpest in recent times.

It would be interesting to see what the BJP comes up with next and whether Modi would fire salvo directly at Naveen Patnaik, anytime soon!