Bhubaneswar: With the BJP and the Congress planning to rope in their central leaders and other star campaigners to win the prestigious Bijepur by-elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Sunday, claimed that the star-studded campaign cannot dent the prospects of the regional party.
Speaking to reporters, BJD leader and state Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera said, “The Chief Minister had defeated his rivals with a good margin in the Bijepur assembly election recently. Our earlier MLA Geeta Sahu also triumphed the Bijepur by-election with confidence. I believe we are going to bag the city with a better margin this time,”
He also added, “It is important to note that only the ruling government can tackle the issues of the people and provide solutions. Our Chief Minister is popular enough to counter other popular leaders from the rival parties in the Bijepur by-elections. They cannot dent the prospects of BJD for Bijepur.”
The leader said that their party can serve the people of the region in a better way. He said, “Who can serve the area better? It is only the BJD who has ruled in the state for years now. Voters are would place their trust in the ruling party and vote for BJD.”
The BJP, on the other side, is also planning an aggressive campaign in Bijepur to show their increasing influence in Odisha. Speaking to the media, State party vice president Samir Mohanty, Sunday, said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik deceived the people of Bijepur by quitting his seat.
He said, “The CM should have retained the Bijepur assembly seat till the next elections. He actually deceived the people of Bijepur who voted for him. Time is ripe now when people will give a befitting response to the CM through votes in the by-elections.”
It has been speculated that while the Congress is planning to pitch in its star leader Rahul Gandhi for the polls, the saffron party is planning to utilize BJD Working President JP Nadda for the polls to ensure their party lead the election from Bijepur.
