Bhubaneswar, May 16: Amid BJP's push in Odisha to improve its performance in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls being held simultaneously, Home Minister Amit Shah has said that people of the state want change and think that "someone else is running the government".

In an interview with ANI, Shah said that the matter of Odisha's pride has become increasingly important.

He said the Odisha Chief Minister should accept that Odisha has not developed as some other states like Gujarat and Maharashtra.

"Even Naveen Patnaik should accept that Odisha is not as developed as other states with a stable government like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh... People there want change... I believe that the matter of Odisha's pride has become increasingly important. There is a perception that someone else is running the government behind Naveen Patnaik," he said.

"The issue of pride in the Odia language, culture, literature, and art has become significant," he added.
Shah alleged that the administration sought to prevent the large participation of people in the Ram Janmabhoomi Pran Pratishtha

and they are upset.

On remarks of BJD leaders that the BJP does not have a CM face in Odisha, Shah said that the party has strong leadership and experienced individuals, and does not face a leadership crisis.

"We have good leadership and very experienced people. Several experienced leaders from their party have joined us. We do not have a leadership crisis," he said.

(ANI)

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