PM Modi to hold 2 more poll rallies in Odisha, Shah address 4 public meetings

BJP is eyeing to capture power in Odisha, win maximum of the state’s 21 LS seats

By Sukant Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, May 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah seem to be taking no chance while chasing their “Mission Odisha” dream. The PM, who has already addressed seven poll rallies and held two roadshows in Odisha in his three previous trips to the state, is again coming to the state on May 29, party sources said on Wednesday.

Modi is scheduled to address two public meetings – one at Kendrapara and the other at Balasore.

The BJP national vice president, Baijayant Jay Panda, is trying his luck from Kendrapara while the party has fielded former Union minister Pratap Sarangi from Balasore.

According to BJP election in-charge for Odisha, Vijaypal Singh Tomar, — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming trip to the state for election campaign will further boost the morale of the party workers and leaders and help it get the majority in the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly and win maximum number of the state’s 21 Lok Sabha seats.

Tomar informed that Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the state on May 25. He will attend public meetings in Baripada, Chandbali, Korei and Nimapara, respectively covering Bhadrak, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituencies.

On Thursday, BJP national president JP Nadda is scheduled to attend public meetings in Chilika under Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha segment and Mahanga under Kendrapara parliamentary constituency.

The Central BJP leaders, unlike the previous elections in 2014 and 2019, have been directly targeting the ruling Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, accusing him compromising with Odia Asmita (pride and honour), messing up with natural resources and failing to bring economic prosperity to the state due to poor governance, nepotism and corruption.