Lok Sabha polls: Narendra Modi to address rallies in Odisha again on April 11

BHUBANESWAR: With campaigning for the first phase Lok Sabha elections in Odisha ending today, several BJP leaders including its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi are set to visit the state again to bolster the party's prospects in the second phase polls.

Modi is scheduled to address two poll rallies on April 11 at Balasore and Talcher where second phase polling is slated to be held on April 17, a senior party leader said.

The Gujarat Chief Minister had earlier addressed three election meetings at Nuapada, Balangir and Rourkela where polling is slated to be held on April 10, BJP's Odisha In-Charge Arun Singh said.

Similarly, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to visit the state on April 10 to address rallies at Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district, Anandpur in Keonjhar district and Mahakalpada in Kendrapara district.

Claiming that BJP was ahead of other parties in holding big rallies, Singh said while the party held as many as 16 rallies for its national leaders, Congress managed only 2-3 rallies for the first phase of election in the state.

While BJP was gaining as its workers workers were highly motivated and united, partymen of Congress and BJD were divided, disorganised and demoralised, he claimed.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Surendra Lath alleged that the ruling BJD was distributing money in ambulances with the help of the police in several areas of Sambalpur and Bargarh in western Odisha.

BJP has lodged a complaint in this regard with the state chief electoral officer (CEO) and sought stringent action, he said.