‘Prioritise own issues’: Odisha CM’s poll appeal to youth

Bhubaneswar: The youth, especially the first-time voters should prioritise their own issues and make well-informed decisions when it comes to casting their votes, said Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a youth summit here today.

“My message would be to look very carefully at all your priorities, then political manifestos and see which ones you believe in most and then cast your precious vote,” Naveen spoke at the India Today Mind Rocks 2019 in Bhubaneswar.

When asked what he thinks the responsibility of the youth in today’s world, Patnaik, an alumnus of the elite Doon School, said, “The responsibility of the youth is always to first look seriously on things you wish to concentrate on.”

Besides, Naveen, who is the Chief of the State’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has made it clear that his party will go solo and ruled out any possible alliance with the Congress or the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “Our policy is consistently to remain equidistant from the BJP and the Congress. We have done so and will continue to do so,” he said.

The BJD President also said that his party will not be a part of Mahagathabandhan, a grand alliance of opposition parties.

When asked what he thinks are the biggest issues on which the 2019 general elections will be fought, Patnaik mentioned – rising fuel prices, growing agrarian distress and unemployment.