Stay prepared for early polls, Naveen Patnaik tells BJD leaders at review meet

BJD leaders said Naveen Patnaik told party observers that they should be prepared for the possibility of assembly elections

Updated on: Aug 31, 2023, 19:43:26 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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BHUBANESWAR: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has asked senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party leaders to review the party’s poll preparedness and be prepared for elections at any point in time, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik (ANI FILE)

BJD leaders said Patnaik told party observers of eight districts at a review meeting on Wednesday that they should be prepared for the possibility of assembly elections later this year rather than May 2024 when they would be held along with the national elections.

A BJD leader said back-to-back meetings that have been scheduled with district observers. The party will also organise meetings of leaders from all 147 assembly constituencies.

BJD leader Amar Prasad Satpathy said the BJD has the support of the people of Odisha and is ready to face the polls before the current assembly’s term ends in June next year. “Our pro-people schemes are bearing fruits. People are saying they are receiving immense benefits from our government. I think early polls will favour us,” he said.

Senior party leader Prasanna Acharya who has been asked by the party chief to finalise the issues to focus in the elections, said the party was ready for any eventuality. “We are always prepared for early polls. It’s a natural process,” he said.

Party leaders maintained that the series of welfare programmes including Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha (Our Odisha, New Odisha) announced recently indicated the party’s readiness to fight the assembly polls in December.

Naveen Patnaik’s private secretary VK Pandian has been carrying out whirlwind tours of the 147 assembly constituencies since July this year, listening to the grievances of people on behalf of the chief minister.

The state assembly’s monsoon session will be held between September 22 and October 4.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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