Will Odisha go for early polls? This is what Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says

Bhubaneswar: Following BJP’s debacle in Padampur bypoll in Bargarh district, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hinted at early elections in Odisha.

“We are hearing that Odisha might go for early polls, eight or 15 months before 2024 elections. At this moment, we cannot predict the political scenario,” Pradhan told media reporters here while responding to electoral loss.

“It’s a competition. In democracy, every party will reach out to people with their respective political manifestos. Ultimately, people will have to decide the fate of the parties. We had fought 2019 elections. Today, we are the main opposition in state assembly. We are contesting with our agenda. I am sure that people of Odisha trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they will place their reliance on him in future,” he said.

Accepting people’s verdict in Padampur bypoll, Pradhan said that the winning party should not show boastfulness over its victory.

On address by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he said, “the BJD should not forget that BJP has garnered more than 78,000 votes in Padampur bypoll. It does not mean that women have not voted for BJP candidate. It’s not fair to be adamant in democracy for the triumph. No doubt, the winner will speak much, and the losing party has to accept people’s verdict.”

Speaking about women empowerment as pointed out by CM Patnaik in his address after BJD candidate Barsha Singh Bariha sealed a big win in Padampur bypoll, he said that the fact will not change after the bypoll.

“The ruling party recently stated in the Assembly that number of atrocity on women has increased in past 3 years in Odisha. This shows the position of the state in women empowerment,” he said.

Criticising CM Naveen Patnaik who spoke about his party’s contribution in women empowerment, Pradhan said, “It’s the Centre that is providing monetary assistance for constructing toilets, houses, electricity connection and LPG connection and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a milestone in the country in last 75 years.”