Nuapada: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a massive show of strength in the Nuapada Assembly constituency today, rallying thousands of supporters for their candidate, Shirmati Snehangini Chhuria, ahead of the upcoming by-election.
The impressive demonstration saw a procession of over 15,000 supporters, party workers, and senior leaders march from the Lord Shiva’ Temple to the District Magistrate’s office. Smt. Chhuria was greeted with a grand welcome, underscoring the party’s confidence in the Western Odisha leader.
The public meeting, presided over by senior BJD Vice President Shri Debi Prasad Mishra near the District Collector’s office, served as a platform to reaffirm public faith in the party’s developmental legacy under former Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik.
Speakers highlighted the “unwavering faith” of the people, citing significant development in education, health, irrigation, and road sectors during the BJD’s tenure. Tributes were also paid to the late BJD MLA, Shri Rajendra Dholakia, whose “immortal service” was noted as a foundation for the party’s strength.
The rally quickly turned into an attack on the ruling state BJP government. Senior BJD leaders launched a sharp critique, with a key charge being that the ‘Double engine is not double development, it is double destruction.’ Nuapada District President Shri Abni Ranjan Joshi, General Secretary Shri Manoj Mishra, and senior leader Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Majhi, along with numerous state-level leaders, accused the BJP of neglecting Nuapada during its 16 months in power.
In her address, Smt. Snehangini Chhuria expressed her commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the local populace. The BJD leaders present, who included Shri Pranab Prakash Das, Shri Sanjay Kumar Dasbarma, Shri Pratap Jena, and many others, firmly asserted that Smt. Chhuria would emerge victorious with the blessings of the people of Nuapada, marking a crucial win for the party in the bye-poll.