Bhubaneswar: With the general elections round the corner, veteran politicians in Odisha have set their sights on distant Gujarat, Surat to be specific, where more than seven lakh Odias reside with their families who have their roots deeply entrenched in Odisha.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has planned his itinerary to address Odisha Mahotsav being hosted by Surat Pravasi Odia Samaja December 17, 2018 as chief guest. The function will be organised at Rajwadi Parti plot, Amreli in Surat at 4 pm.
Earlier, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended Odisha Parba held at the Gujarat town in September. Grapevines have it that the BJD is organising the Mahotshav to counter the BJP-backed Odisha Parba.
Apparently, the ruling BJD and its political opponent in Odisha – BJP – are trying their best to woo the Odia voters residing in Surat area.
According official figures, about seven lakh people from Odisha, mainly from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s home district Ganjam, are residing in the home state of PM Narendra Modi.
A very large section of Odia people residing there are engaged in power loom, dyeing and printing, diamond cutting and other trades and commerce in Surat.
Although many of them have already settled there, they return to Odisha during elections. Sources also said that even if they do not return to the state, they can influence their family votes from there.
Therefore, both the ruling party and the BJP have prepared their game plans for garnering the support of the Odia people in Surat.
However, this is not a maiden move by the BJD. Earlier, Naveen had urged Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to introduce two daily trains between Berhampur and Surat for the convenience of Ganjam people working in the western state.
Naveen had also written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu requesting him to take necessary steps for introduction of direct flights to Surat from Bhubaneswar.
BJD leader and Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera had also visited Surat to attend a programme, which was opposed by BJP backed Odia residents there.
Pradhan, who had already participated in political campaigning in Surat area during the last assembly elections in Gujarat, is also getting support from the local administration there for obvious reasons.
Smelling politics behind Naveen’s visit to Surat, state BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said: “The BJD can go to any extent to bag votes. The CM has failed to provide basic facilities and livelihood even to the people belonging to his own district. That’s why people are migrating to Surat. They are happy in staying there as BJP government is ensuring all kinds of support to them.”
BJD spokesperson Samir Ranjan Dash said, “The BJP can do politics over any issue. Our CM is visiting Surat to join a cultural programme accepting the invitation of Odia people staying there. His visit will embolden them and help put pressure on the Gujarat government to address their issues.”
PNN
