Bhubaneswar: Putting all speculation to rest, Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram Tuesday announced that his Cabinet colleague Dharmendra Pradhan would be the BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate for next general election in Odisha.
As the news on former IAS officer Aparajita Sarangi’s entry into BJP was flashed, speculation was rife that she may be projected as the BJP’s CM face in the state.
Replying to a media query here, Oram said, “Pradhan is the CM candidate of the BJP in Odisha. We will fight the forthcoming general elections under his leadership. Our aim is to unseat Naveen Patnaik from power and put an end to the rule of the non-Odia bureaucrats in the state.”
The Union minister is optimistic on achievement of Mission 120+ target set by party president Amit Shah for the State Assembly elections.
He said the party will leave no stone unturned to dethrone the BJD and give a sigh relief to people from the 19 years of misrule, ill governance and rampant corruption.
Asked about the speculations on alleged resignations of Dilip Ray and Bijay Mohapatra from the BJP, the minister said it will be a major loss for his party if they quit. However, BJP will try its best to compensate for the loss, he added.
Oram also clarified on the demands raised by Ray for the construction of the second bridge on Brahmani river and upgradation of Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Rourkela.
The construction of the proposed bridge is delayed as the state government is yet to give environment clearance while the process has been initiated for upgrading the IGH as a super-speciality hospital, he said.
“It is a personal matter for a leader to decide whether to remain in a party or quit. My personal relationship with Dilip is very good. But the political relationship is temporary,” he pointed out.
PNN
