In a fiery rally held in Behrampur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on both the Congress and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, alleging a history of exploitation that has left the resource-rich State impoverished. Addressing the crowd in the run-up to the State polls, which coincide with the general elections, PM Modi criticised the mismanagement of Odisha’s abundant resources over the past seven decades.
“Odisha has water, fertile land, minerals, a long coastline, history, culture – God has bestowed so much upon it. Yet, why do the people of Odisha remain impoverished? The answer lies in decades of exploitation, first by Congress leaders and then by BJD leaders. Even minor BJD officials own palatial residences,” PM Modi asserted, highlighting the disparity between Odisha’s natural wealth and its developmental status.
In an unusual move, PM Modi directly targeted BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a rally in Ganjam, questioning the mass migration of labourers from Patnaik’s own constituency, Hinjili, and the prevalence of vacant doctor positions in local hospitals. “Why do so many children drop out of schools in your State?” PM Modi queried, emphasising his commitment to funding Odisha’s development projects.
Taking a veiled swipe at the previous Congress-led Government, PM Modi compared the financial allocations received by Odisha during their tenure with those under his administration. He stated, “When Sonia Gandhi’s remote control government was in power for 10 years, Odisha received ₹1 lakh crore. Under my leadership, Odisha has received ₹3.5 lakh crore in the same period. However, money alone does not guarantee progress.”
PM Modi further hit out at the Odisha Government’s handling of welfare schemes and mentioned, “The Centre provides an assistance of ₹ 6,000 to every pregnant women. You will be surprised that the Odisha Government has suspended this important scheme.”
“The Centre sent ₹ 10,000 crore rupees for Jal Jeevan Mission. The government here could not even spend that money. Modi sends money to build roads in rural areas, but the roads here are in a bad shape. Modi sends money for free rice, the BJD government sticks its own photograph on the packets,” stated the PM.
Asserting confidence in the BJP’s prospects in Odisha, PM Modi declared, “The people of Odisha have decided to usher in a new era of development with the BJP. The BJD government’s tenure will expire on June 4. The BJP represents a new dawn for Odisha.”
Responding to PM Modi’s claims, a video surfaced featuring BJD leader VK Pandian, a close aide of Naveen Patnaik, dismissing the BJP’s electoral ambitions as “daydreaming.” Patnaik’s retort underlines the intensity of the political contest in Odisha as the State gears up for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Despite the heated exchanges, observers note a measured approach in the BJP’s campaign against Patnaik, reflecting the delicate balance between political rivalry and strategic cooperation. The BJD’s pivotal support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on key legislative matters has ensured a degree of restraint in BJP’s attacks on Patnaik.
