Naveen Patnaik Accuses BJP Government of Tarnishing Odisha’s Image

Addressing the BJD’s Jana Sampark Padyatra in the Bhubaneswar North Assembly constituency, organised to mark the birth anniversary of noted Odia freedom fighter Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Patnaik said his party had prioritised public service and development during its 24-year tenure in government.

He claimed that Odisha had emerged as a model state under the BJD and criticised the current administration, describing it as “incompetent” and alleging that it had tarnished the state’s image.

Patnaik urged party workers to take what he described as the failures of the BJP government to every household and raise public awareness about its policies. At the beginning of the programme, he paid floral tributes to Gopabandhu Das and former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

Former minister Ashok Panda, MLAs Sushant Rout and Ananta Narayan Jena, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das and Manmath Routray also addressed the gathering. They criticised the state government over what they described as its anti-people policies. Local corporators were also present.

The BJD’s Jana Sampark Yatra began on October 2, marking Gandhi Jayanti, and is scheduled to continue until November 2.

Separately, BJD Rajya Sabha member Santrupt Misra said on Friday that the outreach campaign was important for strengthening the party’s organisation and connecting with the public.

Misra said the party had continued the yatra while in power and would maintain the initiative in Opposition, describing it as an integral part of its organisational activities.