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VK Pandian, a close aide of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. (Image source: News18)
Pandian, while campaigning from the Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat, said the BJP has been “daydreaming” about forming a government in Odisha since 2014
Senior BJD leader VK Pandian on Saturday challenged the BJP to announce its chief candidate for Odisha, claiming that the party would get less than 10 per cent votes if it nominated any sitting state leader.
Pandian, who is contesting from the Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat, said the BJP has been “daydreaming” about forming a government in Odisha since 2014.
“When elections come, many leaders come as election tourists and then never see them again for five years,” he said. “As Naveen Patnaik said, dreaming of forming a government is a very old habit of the BJP leaders in Odisha. They have been daydreaming since 2014,” he added.
Pandian claimed that the BJP could not announce its chief ministerial candidate because it knew that on the day of announcement, its vote share would be less than 10%.
“PM Modi claimed that the BJP chief minister will be sworn in on June 10. The people of Odisha have the right to know who is the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP. Let the people stand on Naveen Patnaik and India The decision is to be made between the BJP candidates. The BJP is afraid to announce its chief ministerial candidate because they know that if they choose any of the current leaders, they will get less than 10% of the votes,” he said.
“I challenge the BJP to declare its chief ministerial candidate,” he added. Addressing an election rally, Modi indirectly referred to Pandian’s earlier claim that he was the natural heir to all the great values of Patnaik, “I am here to invite you to the BJP chief’s meeting in Bhubaneswar in June. Swearing-in Ceremony of Ministers” 10. A son or daughter of the soil who understands the culture, language and traditions of the country will be appointed as the Chief Minister. Pandian said the BJP claimed to make Odisha the top state in the country, “but is Gujarat the first state?” “Gujarat has a child malnutrition rate of 40 per cent. The child anemia rate in Gujarat is 79 per cent. Gujarat has a child malnutrition rate of 40 per cent. The per capita debt burden is close to Rs 60,000,” he claimed.
Pandian claimed that CM Patnaik never forgot his promises and said the BJD manifesto would be converted into a policy document after the elections. Odisha will hold simultaneous polls in four phases starting from May 13 for its 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147-member Assembly.
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