Bhubaneswar: Hours before campaigning for Nuapada by-election drew to a close, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), accusing the regional party of indulging in ‘cheap politics’.
Addressing a presser, Samal accused the BJD of running an emotionally-hollow negative campaign against the BJP. “Instead of talking about what they have done for the constituency in all these years, the regional party resorted to gimmicks, using terms like ‘Beiman’, ‘Vote Chori’,” he said.
Taking a direct swipe at BJD president and leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik, Samal referred to March 7, 2009, when he alleged BJP nominee Jay Dholakia and his mother Kalpana’s calls to the party supremo went unanswered. “You (the BJD supremo) neither received their call nor called them back,” Samal alleged in a rebuttal to Naveen’s “Betrayal” barbs at the Dholakia family.
Jay entered the saffron fold within weeks of his father and BJD MLA from Nuapada Ranjendra Dholakia’s death, which necessitated the bypoll.
“It is for everyone to see who rightly owns the ‘traitor’ tag,” Samal remarked.
The BJP state president further stated that Nuapada will be developed into a number one district and assembly constituency. “A medical college will be established in Nuapada for which the central government has given a green signal. Tourist sites will be developed. We will make Nuapada No-1 district in the state. Development is our only motto,” he added.
The BJD also released a video with a message from the party supremo, 90 minutes before the silence period began at 4 pm in which Naveen declared that “the beginning of BJP’s defeat will start from Nuapada–with the strength and cooperation of the people.”
He also expressed gratitude to the people of Nuapada, Khariar Road, and Komna for their enthusiastic participation in his public meetings on November 3 and November 7. He also urged the voters to bless party candidate Snehangini Chhuria, whom he described as a respected woman leader from Western Odisha, by choosing the conch symbol on November 11.
The former CM further accused the BJP government of neglecting women and tribals, halting key welfare programmes like the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), and tarnishing Odisha’s image. He alleged that atrocities against women have increased and Mission Shakti members are facing hardships under the current regime.
Reaffirming his lifelong dedication to the people, Naveen concluded his message with a personal commitment: “I will continue to serve the people of Odisha till my last breath.”