May 22nd 2024.
On Wednesday, the Biju Janata Dal flexed its political might in an effort to maintain its Lok Sabha seat and regain the Puri Assembly seat, which was lost to the BJP in the 2019 elections. The party organized a large gathering of BJD members and activists from the Puri Lok Sabha constituency at the Talabania grounds. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, was present at the event to interact with the people and gather feedback on various government programs and initiatives such as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, Mamata Yojana, Laxmi bus service, women's self-help groups, Adarsh schools, and scholarships for students. He also took the opportunity to seek their opinion on himself as a leader. In response, the crowd echoed in unison, "We love you, Naveen!"
Following the Chief Minister's address, Kartik Pandian, a trusted bureaucrat-turned-politician, spoke about the various schemes and policies of the BJD as envisioned by Naveen Patnaik. In an effort to attract middle-class voters, Pandian announced that the party would provide subsidies on home and study loans to ease financial burdens. He also highlighted the allocation of scholarships for students from middle-class families, with Rs.12,000 for boys and Rs.14,000 for girls per year. Pandian emphasized that this was the first time a Chief Minister had addressed the grievances of the middle class, setting Odisha apart from other states in the country.
Pandian went on to announce that upon taking oath on June 9, Naveen Patnaik's first official act would be to sign free electricity bills and distribute Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) cards to those who did not yet have them, in addition to ration cards. He also promised to fill all vacant government positions to provide employment opportunities for the youth. The BJD leader assured that those who were affected by cyclones Phailin and Fani and were unable to receive housing assistance would be given priority.
Pandian also addressed the concerns of street vendors who were evicted during the construction of the Srimandir Parikrama corridor. He promised to rehabilitate them appropriately. The women self-help group members were also promised allowances and pensions, with an increase in their interest-free loan limit to Rs.15 lakh. Pandian highlighted Naveen Patnaik's comprehensive development plan for Puri, including the completion of various projects such as the trumpet bridge, Sri Marg, Parikrama corridor, and multi-level parking lots. He also announced the plan for an international airport in Puri within the next three years, with the goal of transforming the city into an international heritage spot and boosting tourism.
Pandian concluded his speech by stating that Puri would soon become the economic backbone of Odisha under Naveen Patnaik's leadership. The meeting was also addressed by BJD Lok Sabha candidate Arup Mohan Patnaik and assembly candidates Rudra Pratap Maharathy (Pipili), Sunil Kumar Mohanty (Puri), Umakanta Samantaray (Brahmagiri), and Sanjay Kumar Das Burma (Satyabadi). The Chief Minister appealed to the people to vote for them and support the double "Sankha" symbol, which represents the BJD. This was the last major meeting held by the Chief Minister in Puri before the upcoming elections on May 25, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow on May 20. Earlier on the same day, Pandian had also organized a roadshow in Puri, showcasing the party's strength and support in the region.
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