Balangir: In what can be termed as a major morale booster for the BJP leaders and workers in Odisha, party's national president Amit Shah today said that the BJP is likely to win more than 120 seats in the 2019 State Assembly Elections.

Addressing a Yuva Sammelan at the Kaushal Kala Mangal ground here, Shah said, "I had not spoken about BJP's 'Mission 120' yesterday (at a public meeting in Bhawanipatna) as it seems that the party will get more seats in Odisha in the 2019 polls. The turnout clearly indicates that BJP will form the next government in Odisha."

Coming down heavily on the BJD government, the BJP national president said, "In the last 1.5 years, more than 14 workers of BJP have been killed but no culprit has been caught so far. They are moving scot-free as the State Government is shielding them."

"It is unfortunate that the youths of Odisha, who have played a major role in the development of other states, are not being able to contribute towards the progress of their own state as the Naveen Patnaik-government is unable to provide them proper scope. On the other hand, through Skill India, Startup India, Standup India and Mudra Bank, the BJP government has provided employment to around 9 crore youths in the country," Shah said.

Speaking over the issue of fluoride contaminated water in the region, he said, "The problem of excessive fluoride in drinking water shows failure of Naveen Patnaik-government in Odisha. Around 4200 people have kidney related diseases due to this. If a small check-dam had been built, people would not have been forced to drink fluoride contaminated water. We will ensure that the check-dam is built with the help of the Central Government."

"If a government after 18 years of its rule, can not at least provide drinking water to the people of the state, then it has no right to stay in power," Shah added.

"Western Odisha has been neglected due to the apathy of the State Government. But, we will ensure development of the region. A BJP government in Odisha is necessary for the development of the state," he said.

Earlier in the day, Shah said that the saffron party's win in Odisha would be even bigger than the Tripura.

"The verdict in Odisha is going to be bigger than Tripura," said the BJP President while addressing a 'Mahasamavesh' in Bolangir on Thursday.

"I had not spoken about Mission 120 yesterday and Naveen babu planted news in media as to why I was silent. But I had not spoken about it because am sure we will win more seats here, much bigger than the mandate we got in Tripura recently," said Shah.

Shah, like during his previous visit, has also relished delicious Odia food at the house of one Maheswar Suna in Deogaon village here.