Bhubaneswar, Oct 2: BJD President and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik urged party workers to expose the false promises and inefficiency of the BJP government in Odisha.
Speaking at the launch of the annual Jan Sampark Padayatra in Bhubaneswar on Gandhi Jayanti, Patnaik emphasized the importance of the people's trust and love, which he called the BJD's greatest asset.
He urged party workers to spread the message about the BJP's unmet promises, such as the failure to provide 300 units of free electricity, pensions, and financial support to women.
Patnaik launched a sharp critique of the BJP-led Mohan Majhi government for renaming BJD-initiated schemes. He remarked, "You can change the name, you can change the colour, but you cannot change history," underscoring that the people are well aware of the truth.
He also condemned the BJP's inability to control the rising prices of essential commodities, highlighting that women and government employees feel unsafe. Patnaik accused the BJP of relying on lies to win elections but noted that they have failed to win the hearts of the people.
Reflecting on the BJD's achievements during its 24 years in power, Patnaik noted significant improvements in various sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and the empowerment of marginalized communities. He pointed out that Odisha's poverty rate has dramatically decreased from 70% in 2000 to 10%, and the state's per capita income has risen. Despite being in opposition, Patnaik affirmed his commitment to serve the people until his last breath, stressing that the BJD will continue to remain in the hearts of the people for the future.
This speech sets the stage for the upcoming 2024 elections, where Patnaik highlighted that although the BJP may have formed the government, the BJD still garnered more votes.
