Odisha BJP upbeat ahead of Amit Shah’s visit on Jan 6

Odisha Sun Times Bureau:
Bhubaneswar, Jan 2:

BJP leaders in Odisha are upbeat ahead of party president Amit Shah’s maiden visit to the state on January 6. They believe the two-day visit of the chief strategist of the party would give further impetus to the drive against the BJD government.

“BJP is upbeat over Amit Shah’s visit to the state. They are all eagerly waiting to take part in the Maha Sangram. With the launch of the rally, we will expose the misdeeds of the BJD government which is already neck-deep in corruption,” senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said on the occasion of the ‘bhoomi pujan’ at the rally venue at Unit VI here today.

State unit President Kanak Vardan Singhdeo said many leaders from other parties are set to join the BJP during and after Shah’s visit.

“Several leaders have contacted us and expressed their desire to join the party,” he said.  Asked if some of those who have left the party are likely to return, he said those interested to come back are all from other parties.

“The preparations for party national president Amit Shah’s rally have already started before one month. Only ‘bhoomi pujan’ was done today,” Singhdeo said.

Amit Shah is scheduled to address a rally here at the ground behind the Capital Hospital under Unit-VI area. The party is expecting around one lakh people to turn up for the event.

The saffron party has decided to launch a mega campaign—Maha Sangram– during the visit of Amit Shah.

As per schedule, the BJP president is expected to arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport at around 9:25 AM on January 6. At 11:30 AM, Shah will address the rally at Unit-VI playground. Later in the day, he is scheduled to meet party workers and then he would leave for Puri.

On the following day, Shah is scheduled to meet the press before leaving for New Delhi in the evening.

Earlier, BJP had criticised the state government for not providing a proper venue for the rally. The party had proposed to hold the meeting at PMG Square or at a school ground, but the government refused to give permission.

During his visit, Shah is likely to review the party’s ongoing membership drive across the state