Naveen Asks BJD Leaders to Stay Connected with People, Prepare for Rural and Urban polls

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged party leaders and workers to begin preparations for the 2027 Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections, emphasizing the need to stay connected with people and actively raise public issues.

Addressing an organizational meeting attended primarily by candidates who lost the 2024 Assembly elections, Naveen encouraged party workers not to lose confidence due to the electoral setback or the departure of some leaders from the party.

During the meeting, the BJD chief interacted with leaders from various constituencies and reviewed the party’s organizational strength and local concerns across the state.

“Face the situation with confidence and remain connected with people”, Naveen said, alleging that the law and order situation in Odisha had deteriorated since the BJP assumed power. He claimed that incidents of murder, rape, loot, and crimes against women had increased, creating an atmosphere of fear among the public.

The BJD President called upon party leaders to highlight people’s grievances and continue fighting for their rights. He also expressed concern over the state’s economic condition, claiming that while the BJD government had left a surplus of ₹45,000 crore when it relinquished power, the state’s debt had risen significantly over the past two years.

He further alleged irregularities in the disbursement of social security pensions to elderly citizens and persons with disabilities.

Highlighting the achievements of the BJD’s 24-year tenure in Odisha, Patnaik said the government had earned national recognition for its work in disaster management, food security, and welfare initiatives for women, farmers, and students.

“With the Panchayat and Municipal elections approaching, you must prepare with full confidence. Give more importance to social media as it reaches people quickly”, he told party workers.

He also urged leaders to remain vigilant during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“We have to work cautiously and ensure that not a single eligible voter’s name is deleted because of a minor typographical error”, he said.

The BJD President also praised the party’s ‘Nari Adhikar Abhiyan’, claiming that the campaign had received a positive response across all 120 Assembly constituencies where it was conducted.