Bhubaneswar: The BJP has started sharpening its arsenals against Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik with both seats from where he is contesting the upcoming elections going to polls in the second-round elections in Odisha on May 20.
This week two of the top leaders of the saffron party will be in Odisha and campaign in his turf. While Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Kantabanji in Balangir district, along with Rourkela and Sorada, on May 15, BJP national president J P Nadda will be in Hinjili in Ganjam district on May 17.
Besides campaigning in the CM’s home turn, Nadda will also address rallies in Sundargarh and Padampur.
Naveen is contesting from Kantabanji under Balangir LS seat, apart from seeking re-elections from Hinjili under Aska LS seats for the sixth term.
The line-up seems to be part of the BJP’s strategy to wrest power from the ruling BJD and improve its Lok Sabha tally in Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already set the government formation narrative in motion by inviting people of the state to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the first BJP government in Bhubaneswar on June 10. He also gave June 6 as the date for selection of the chief minister of his party at his Berhampur meeting on May 6.
Congress’ star cmapaigner Rahul Gandhi will also be addressing a public gathering in Balangir on May 15. “Rahul and Mallikarjun Kharge will address public gatherings in Balangir and Kandhamal on May 15 and May 16, respectively. Kharge will also hold a press conference in Bhubaneswar,” Odisha Congress in-charge Ajoy Kumar informed on Monday.
Bargarh, Sundargarh, Balangir, Kandhamal, and Aska Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assemble segments under them will go to polls on May 20.
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