Bhubaneswar: BJD Supremo and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Legislative Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday claimed that the BJP came to power in the state by making false promises and misleading people.
The former Chief Minister made the allegations while addressing a gathering after launching the regional party’s annual “Jan Sampark Yatra” here in the state capital.
The Governing BJP, however, denied the allegations asserting that all poll promises were kept.
“The BJP has come to power in Odisha by making false promises and telling lies to the people,” Shri Patnaik said.
Listing the BJP’s promises made during the assembly polls, the BJD Supremo asked whether the people are getting 300 units of electricity free of cost and Rs 3,000 as social security pension, as promised by the saffron party leaders ahead of the elections.
Referring to the state government’s flagship Subhadra Yojana, Patnaik asked whether the women get Rs 50,000 each as promised by the BJP in its election manifesto.
“During elections, they (BJP leaders) promised to give many things to the people. Now BJP’s lie has been caught,” Shri Patnaik said.
Prices of essential commodities have been rising rapidly, LoP alleged.
Referring to the alleged sexual assault of a woman at a police station in the capital city recently, the former CM said that the women are not safe even in the police station.
The LoP said, “Government servants are also not safe in Raj Bhavan. People cannot trust this BJP government. The party can win elections by lying, but not the hearts of the people. Lies are the identity of BJP.”
He was referring to the physical assault on a government official allegedly by the son of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das inside the Raj Bhavan in Puri during Rath Jatra.
Shri Patnaik, who served the state as the chief minister for 24 years at a stretch, said: “Whether I am in power or not, I have served you all the time and will continue to serve the people of Odisha till the end.”
Claiming that BJD is no more a political party, but a movement in the state, Shri Patnaik said the people love the regional party and trust it.
After the 2024 assembly elections, the BJP might have formed the government, but BJD got more votes than the saffron party.
While the BJD secured 40.22 per cent of votes and got 51 seats in the last assembly elections, the ruling BJP got a 40.07 per cent mandate but availed 78 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly. The Congress bagged 14 seats followed by three by the independents, while the CPI(M) got one seat.
BJD Supremo said “We will continue to serve people and lakhs of our workers will carry forward BJD’s message to people and also expose the false promises and incompetence of BJP government”.
While paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and launching the party’s ‘Padayatra’ programme here which is being held across the state, Patnaik said that walking is one of the most powerful ways to connect with people. He said the BJD has always been with people.
“Service and kindness is BJD’s mantra,” Shri Patnaik said, adding that development is his party’s “identity”.