Padampur/Sundargarh, May 16: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J P Nadda on Thursday urged the people of Odisha to exercise their franchise in favour of the BJP candidates, both for the ongoing Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections, to save the State from the 'officer raj' in the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government.

Nadda made the remark at two election rallies in Padampur under Bargarh Lok Sabha seat and Sundargarh parliamentary constituency.

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପଦ୍ମପୁରର ଏକ ବିଶାଳ ଜନସଭାକୁ ସମ୍ବୋଧିତ କଲି।

ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ସରକାର ଅଫିସରଙ୍କ ଦ୍ଵାରା ପରିଚାଳିତ ହେଉଥିବା ବେଳେ ନିର୍ବାଚିତ ପ୍ରତିନିଧିମାନେ ନିରବଦ୍ରଷ୍ଟା ସାଜିଛନ୍ତି। ଏବେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସମୟ ଆସିଛି ଏପରି ଏକ ନେତା ବାଛିବାର ଯିଏ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରୁ ହୋଇଥିବେ, ଓଡ଼ିଆ କହୁଥିବେ ଓ ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କ ସବୁଦିନିଆ… pic.twitter.com/kT6jOiCwlq
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (Modi Ka Parivar) (@JPNadda) May 16, 2024

The BJP president highlighted how the Government officials are running the BJD government in the State while the elected MLAs and MPs have been made redundant.

"Do you need such a government? Officials are running the government here while MLAs/MPs have been made redundant. Do MLAs wield any power in the state? There is only one person who is taking the stage here and there is no place for the MPs and the MLAs. Are you able to meet your Chief Minister? Does he speak to you in Odia?", Nadda asked the gathering in both the places.

Nadda emphasised the necessity for a young, locally rooted Chief Minister who actively manages daily administration, stressing the importance of preserving Odisha's cultural identity and pride.

"Now the time has come for the people of Odisha to elect a leader who is from Odisha, speaks Odia and will be a companion during the happiness and sorrows of the people of State," Nadda said.

While seeking votes for BJP candidates, Nadda accused the BJD government of being corrupt. "Will you allow corrupt people to return power? It is the time to bless the BJP and help it form the government in the state," he said.

Nadda also targeted the BJD government over the issue of missing keys of Ratna Bhandar, the treasury of Jagannath Temple in Puri, echoing concerns previously expressed by PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

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The saffron leader appealed the people to press the lotus button at the polling station in the ongoing general elections, adding that the new BJP government in the State would open the temple's treasury.

The BJP chief also came down heavily on the BJD government for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the State. He also said nearly 68 lakh families were deprived of Rs 5 lakh health cover due to the non-implementation of the scheme in Odisha.

Referring to BJD government's alleged misrule, Nadda said, "People of Odisha will not tolerate anymore. They will vote for the lotus symbol twice, one for MP and another for MLA, and get double development in the State."

Nadda also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been very concerned towards the development of Odisha.

"Modi has always ensured the state's development. He increased the grant-in-aid and also established a permanent campus of IIM at Sambalpur," he said.

"The allocation in the railway budget for Odisha was increased 12 times and 4,300 km of national highways were laid in the state. The third railway line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga is under progress," he added.

The BJP chief also mentioned that the Modi government provided 5 kg rice and 1 kg dal to each family holding a ration card. "Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, about 11.78 crore farmers, including those in Odisha, are getting Rs 6,000 annually," he said.

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The assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha are being held across four phases--from May 13 to June 1.

Polling for the first phase was conducted in 28 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha constituencies on May 13. In the fifth phase, 35 Assembly seats and five Lok Sabha constituencies will vote on May 20, 42 Assembly segments and six Lok Sabha seats on May 25 and the remaining 42 Assembly seats and six Lok Sabha constituencies in the last phase on June 1.

The results will be out on June 4.

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