Berhampur (Odisha), May 6 (UNI) Declaring BJP as the new ray of hope for the people of Odisha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first election meeting here on Monday, equated the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal as a setting sun and Congress as a page of history.
Addressing a massive election meeting "Vijaya Samkalpa Samavesh", Modi appealed to the people to give one chance to his Bharatiya Janata Party, promising to make the state number one in the country.
He stated that Odisha is rich with vast water sources, rich mineral deposits, and a long coastline, yet its people are still languishing in poverty.
The Prime Minister attributed the state's condition to the 50 years of rule by the Congress and 25 years of rule by the BJD, which, according to him, are solely responsible for such a state of affairs.
Modi asserted that for the first time, a double-engine government will be formed in Odisha, while confidently predicting that the BJD government's expiry date will be written on June 4.
He announced, "Today is May 6, and by June 6, BJP's Chief Minister candidate for Odisha will be announced. On June 10, the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP CM will be held, for which I have come here to give all of you a personal invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony."
Modi said the Odisha BJP has come out with a visionary manifesto benefiting all sections of the people and assured that after the formation of the BJP government in the state, all promises made in the manifesto will be implemented, stating that "this is Modi's guarantee".
In Odisha, where both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are taking place simultaneously, Modi urged the voters to promise to choose their government on two principles: one, for a strong government at the Center and another for a strong government in Odisha, so that a double-engine government will be formed.
The Prime Minister criticised the Naveen Patnaik government in the state for not implementing several social welfare schemes of the Center, leading to a situation where, despite Odisha's richness, its people have remained poor. This sin has been committed by the Congress and then the BJD," he said.
Modi mentioned that during the 10 years of Congress rule, Rs. 1 lakh crore was provided to the state, while in the last 10 years, he has given Rs. 3.5 lakh crores to the state.
He stressed, however, that simply sending money will not suffice; what is needed is a good government to implement these schemes and appealed to the people to give one chance to the BJP, promising that Odisha will become the number one state in the country in the next five years.
Modi criticized the BJD leaders for looting the state, highlighting how even small BJD leaders have become owners of big palatial buildings.
He questioned why maximum people from the Chief Minister’s constituency are migrating to other states as Dadan laborers and why there are not enough cold storages in his Hinjili constituency.
Modi said that he had provided Rs 10,000 crore to Odisha under the Jal Jeevan Mission, but the BJD government has miserably failed to utilise the funds. Similarly, funds are being sent for road development, yet several villages in the state have no road connectivity.
He accused the BJD government in the state of either not implementing the schemes or, if at all implementing any scheme, taking credit by pasting the photo of the Chief Minister on these schemes.
Modi said that the Center is providing Rs. 6000 to each pregnant woman, but the Odisha government is not implementing it in the state. "Will any mother of Odisha excuse the BJD government for depriving the benefits to pregnant women?" he asked.
The Prime Minister urged the people to take a pledge to go to polling booths and break all records in exercising their franchise in the elections.
PM Modi also requested the people to visit villages, meet as many people as possible, and convey that "Modi has come to say Jai Jagannath" so that they will bless him thereby empowering him to work more for them.
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