Nuapada: “All of you know that the BJD has been betrayed. Those who indulged in ‘vote chori’ and formed the government earlier have now started ‘candidate chori’,” alleged BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday, launching a sharp attack on the ruling BJP while campaigning for his party candidate in the upcoming Nuapada bypoll.
Addressing a public meeting in Komna block — his first major rally after recovering from illness — Patnaik accused the BJP of “betrayal” and claimed the party was now resorting to “stealing candidates” ahead of the November 11 bypoll.
His remarks were an apparent reference to Jay Dholakia, son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, who switched to the BJP recently and is contesting the bypoll on a saffron party ticket. The by-election was necessitated following the death of Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.
Urging voters to give a “befitting reply” to those involved in “vote chori and candidate chori”, the former five-time chief minister appealed to the electorate to press the conch symbol, BJD’s election symbol, on polling day.
During his 10-minute speech, Patnaik also questioned the BJP government’s performance in Odisha and called for continued public support for the BJD to ensure the state’s development.
“Over the past 16 months, the BJP government has been more concerned with publicity than with real development. They are heroes in publicity but zero in performance. Development activities across the state have come to a standstill,” he alleged.
