2019 polls: Odisha people are our high command, says Naveen

Sundargarh: Striking a chord with the people of Odisha before the commencement of elections in the state, Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik today termed them as party’s ‘high command’.

Addressing a public meeting during his election campaign at Hemagiri in Sundargarh district, Patnaik, indirectly targeting local MP Jual Oram, said a person from the area is an Union Minister but he (Jual Oram) can never dare to discuss about the issues of the region with his high command. “But for us (BJD), the people of Odisha are our high command,” said Patnaik.

The BJD chief also lambasted the BJP-led Central Government alleging that the Centre is conspiring to stop the KALIA scheme of the Odisha Government. “No one can stop the KALIA yojana till I am alive,” Naveen asserted.

He also promised of providing the second instalment financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to farmers under the KALIA scheme on the first day of the formation of BJD government, if the party is voted to power in the polls.

Criticising the Central leaders, Patnaik said they flock to Odisha only during election season. “They (central leaders) need to be asked what happened to the promise of second bridge on Brahmani river and Super Speciality Hospital in Rourkela. Why scholarships for SC & ST students were stopped?,” he asked.

Taking a jibe at BJP’s ‘double engine’ mission (formation of BJP government both at Centre and Odisha), Patnaik said development of women is the real ‘double engine’.

Terming the people of Odisha as his family and saying that he will serve them till his last breath, Patnaik urged the gathering to vote in favour of MP and MLA candidates of the BJD in the polls.