Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) plans to organise two farmers’ rallies February 18 — one at Kesinga in Kalahandi and the other at Gudvela in Bolangir — to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s farmers’ rally at Bargarh February 21.
The party is, however, yet to officially announce this. The ruling party plans to draw a huge crowd in these two places that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to visit to inaugurate some lift irrigation projects, according to sources.
The rallies come against the backdrop of the battle between the BBJD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to take credit for the inauguration of the IOCL refinery at Paradip February 7.
“It is quite natural for political activities to be intensified this year in view of the upcoming panchayat elections in 2017,” said BJD spokesperson Samir Ranjan Das. He, however, refused to divulge details of the ruling party’s plans.
BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo also did not comment on the party’s proposed raly at Bolangir. He, however, said the state government is launching a `650crore mega lift irrigation project for the area, which will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister.
Political experts feel that this is meant to counter the Prime Minister’s farmers’ rally. As part of the strategy to counter the BJP, the state government is also launching its housing scheme for construction workers February 20. The Chief Minister is likely to launch the scheme at Rourkela February 24 and Sambalpur February 27, sources said. BJD leaders also plan to organise famers’ rallies in Padmapur in Bargarh and in Sundargarh district of western Orissa, party insiders said. However, these are likely to be organised after Modi’s proposed farmers’ rally.
BJD spokesperson PK Deb has, however, said that the Chief Minister’s visit to Kalahandi and Bolangir should not be linked to Modi’s farmers’ rally.
After drought hit the state in 2015, western Orissa seems to be the favorite area for politicians to organise farmers’ rallies and score brownie points. PNN
