Cong, BJP to launch campaign against BJD

BHUBANESWAR: To counter the recently-concluded 11-day ‘Save Orissa’ padayatra by the ruling Biju Janata Dal ( BJD), Congress will undertake a state-wide campaign from November 14.

The campaign by the Orissa Youth Congress unit, primarily would aim to outdo impact of BJD’s Save Orissa campaign padayatra, although the party said it was an “awakening” exercise.

“Initially, we had planned to start our campaign against the ruling BJD from October 14. But we had to change it as people remain busy on Kali Puja and some other local festivals during that period,” Pradesh Congress Committee youth wing president Pradeep Majhi told ET.

Mr Majhi also took pains to explain that the proposed campaign was not a counter-exercise to BJD’s Save Orissa rally, but an “awakening” exercise to tell the people about the “misrule” of the Naveen Patnaik government.

"The campaign would aim at highlighting the governance failures of the ruling Biju Janata Dal headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik and making the people aware of the success of the UPA government," Mr Majhi observed.
The campaign would be launched from Iram, a historically important place in Bhadrak district. All India Youth Congress president Rajiv Satav would attend the meeting.

“The campaign will cover 1,500 kilmotres across the state in a period of two weeks. During the march, public and street meetings will be organised which will be addressed by state leaders," Mr Majhi informed. The PCC youth president said no nomenclature for the rally was finalised as yet.

“Has the ruling BJD achieved anything it? It is just befooling people of Orissa. Poverty continues to grow and unemployment problem is assuming serious proportions day by day. At least 60 farmers have committed suicide in the last two years, exposing the ruling BJD's misplaced priorities," Mr Majhi said.

Meanwhile, the BJP, the second leading opposition party in Orissa, has also decided to start a state-wide campaign against the Biju Janata Dal in November. State BJP president Jual Oram said the party's campaign would focus on the BJD's "betrayal" to people of Orissa.

“In the name administration, the BJD leaders are busy in looting the state’s mineral resources. There is no governance in tribal pockets where people are dying in large number because of poor healthcare facilities, improper implementation of food security measures. The delivery system at the grassroots has completely collapsed,” alleged Mr Oram.