Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said that his party will not hold any public rallies or campaign meetings in Pipili, which will go to bypoll on May 13.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had issued a formal notification on the fresh date for the April 17 by-election, which had to be deferred following the death of Congress’ candidate Ajit Mangaraj due to COVID-19.
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“Every life is precious and I always consider people of Odisha as my family members. BJD as a responsible party will not like to put the lives of people in danger. We contest elections to serve people. If the campaign has the potential to endanger lives, I would earnestly appeal to political parties and the ECI to reconsider both the duration and method of campaigning,” Naveen tweeted.
Here are his tweets:
Every life is precious and I always consider people of #Odisha as my family members. In this extremely serious #COVID19 situation amidst surge in cases in the country, @bjd_odisha has decided not to hold any public rallies or campaign meetings in Pipili bypoll.
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 19, 2021
India is a mature democracy and together we can come out with a solution. Democracy is by the people, for the people and of the people. Jai Hind.
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 19, 2021
