Naveen Patnaik seeks blessings of voters for third term

BHUBNAESWAR: Biju Janata Dal head and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seems to remain unperturbed over the "betrayer" tag given to him by the BJP leaders who have launched an offensive against him.

Exuding confidence over retaining power, Mr Patnaik on Tuesday claimed his party would register a comfortable win in the coming Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

"You know we have done a lot of work for the poor. They will support us in the coming elections and my party will sail through the poll battle smoothly," the chief minister said, while addressing a public rally at Rourkela.

"The UPA government has never treated Orissa sympathetically. Many projects are pending completion as the Centre does not release adequate funds for the purpose," Mr Patnaik said.

Mr Patnaik, who is single-handedly campaigning for his party compared to the high-profile campaigning by the main opposition Congress and the recently estranged partner BJP, is asking people to shower "blessings" on him to continue as chief minister of the state for the third term.

"I just need your blessing to continue to serve the state. You have seen the Congress governments in the past and compare them with my administration in the last nine years. All I need is your support to carry the state forward on the path of peace and progress," the chief minister said, repeating these lines from his written speech at each public meeting.

Meanwhile, the BJP Rajya Sabha member and actress Hema Malini launched her campaign in Orissa on Tuesday. Addressing a rally at Jatni near here, Ms Malini said a few so-called secular parties were trying to destroy the cultural background of the country by distorting the concept of Hindutva.

"Hindutva is not a religion. It is above any religion of faith. It is universal brotherhood and it preaches humanity. We have been living with this concept since ages. Unfortunately, a few political parties are trying to distort it for vote bank politics, knowing very well that this would lead to destruction of our cultural roots," she said.