BJP to head councils in 20-25 ULBs: Singhdeo

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, Sep 8:
The state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today released its election manifesto for the upcoming urban local body (ULB) elections scheduled for September 19.

Releasing the party manifesto in the presence of many senior leaders, State BJP president KV Singhdeo said; “In releasing the manifesto, the BJP wants to inform the people that it will provide the required civic amenities for the urban people if it is given a chance to form the ULBs.”
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Singhdeo criticized ruling BJD and opposition Congress for not releasing their party manifestoes for urban elections so far. He said both the parties earlier failed to deliver on the promises they made to electorate in the last urban elections.

The saffron party is the first political outfit in the state to release a manifesto for the upcoming ULB polls, promising better urban governance in the 66 ULBs which would go to poll on September 19.

The party has promised to ensure a high level of efficiency in the functioning of the ULBs and basic amenities including sanitation, drinking water, health, roads, street lights, housing projects, beautification, composite plan for slum development, development of urban marketing facility, setting up of working women’s hostels and night shelters for the homeless.
Singhdeo claimed that the party would form 20-25 ULB councils out of the 66 ULBs going to polls. “As many as 25 ULBs in nine western Orissa districts and urban bodies of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will go for polls later this year. After completion of the elections in all the ULBs, we would form the council in at least 50 per cent ULBs,” the BJP president said. The party expects to do well in Koraput, Jeypore, Balasore, Nilagiri, Bhadrak, Semiliguda, Chhatrapur, Gopalpur and Berhampur in this eections.

BJD vice-president and Health Minister Damodar Rout pooh-poohed the BJP claim saying releasing a manifesto would not bring the party to power. He exuded confidence that the BJD would have chairpersons in a majority of ULBs in the coming elections.