Massive show of strength in Khandapada by Soumya Ranjan

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhapur (Nayagarh), Apr 11:

Ama Odisha Party founder president Soumya Ranjan Patnaik on Thursday stormed Bhapur block in Khandapada constituency, from where he is the candidate in the Assembly elections, with a spectacular road show that received a spontaneous response from an excited crowd wherever it passed through.

Speaking to the assembled crowd, the AOP leader said the time had come for the people of Khandapada to free them from the decades-long autocratic rule of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD. He urged the people to rise to the occasion to make Khandapada free from the repressive rule of the local BJD MLA.

“While the world is proud of Khandapada for its son of the soil and legendary astronomer Pathani Samant and the historic Nilamadhav temple of Lord Jagannath, the people here are in a state of utter neglect. Taking advantage of the simplicity of these innocent people, two families of this constituency have managed to rule for 54 years. On the other hand, these two families have done precious little for the welfare of the people and the development of the constituency and instead have threatened them with dire consequences against any protest,” he said.

Maintaining that the people of Khandapada were desperate for a change in the present set up, Patnaik requested them to cast their votes for his party and its ‘Mathia’ symbol in the ensuing elections scheduled on April 17.

Along with Patnaik, the road show was attended by Kharavela Swain, the AOP candidate for Cuttack Lok Sabha seat.

The rally began from Hanuman temple near Bhapur market and went round Bijipur Sasan, Karabara, Padmabati, Baunsabati, Patharachakada, Dhanachangada, Rakama and Kainphulia panchayats. Everywhere it went, it received a huge and enthusiastic response from the people, underlining the yearning for change sweeping through the constituency.

Meanwhile, Soumya Ranjan’s daughter Tallina arrived at Khandapada on Thursday to campaign for AOP. She went round several villages of Koska, Kumbharapada and Rayat Dholamara panchayats and requested the people to cast their votes in favour of Ama Odisha.

Tallina was warmly greeted by the women of these panchayats during her campaign.

Among others, former sarpanch Akhila Mohan Patnaik, Prafulla Panda, Loknath Pradhan, Sura Das, Narayan Subudhi, Anadi Sahu, Bijay Kumar Panda, Amiya Panda, Subas Panda, Sadananda Sahu, Sata Ranjan Panda, Niranjan Mohanty, Prafulla Panda, Santosh Sahu, Chinmay Panda, Kalia Mohanty, several local leaders and workers of AOP took part in the campaign.