Poll campaign in Orissa intensifies

With Advani's 'yatra' rolling into the state & and Cong-led alliance kickstarting their campaign, poll scenario in Orissa has intensified.

With Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's 'Bharat Uday Yatra' rolling into the state on Monday and Congress-led alliance kickstarting their campaign, the poll scenario in Orissa which would have simultaneous election to the Assembly and Lok Sabha, was gradually heating up.

Entering the state from Nuapada bordering Chattisgarh, Advani would criss-cross the state touching eight Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly constituencies to brighten the BJP-BJD combine's prospects in the ensuing polls as the ruling coalition might experience an anti-incumbency wave.

The ruling coalition was, however, leaving no stone unturned to hold on to power for the second consecutive term in the state.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had already held two meetings in the state last week during which he had highlighted the achievements made by the NDA at the Centre and BJP-BJD government in the state.

Vajpayee's advice to Congress to take rest now had evoked sharp response from the Congress camp.

BJP-BJD which had launched their campaign in February from Puri, mostly concentrated on holding small meetings to activate their workers.

Compared to its main rival, Congress, which was leading a five-party alliance including the two Communist parties and had the 'moral support' of JD(S), was late in kickstarting their poll campaign.