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Naveen hits campaign trail for Corporation election

BHUBANESWAR: With 10 days to go for election to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday hit the streets of capital city seeking people’s support for his party candidates.

Mr. Patnaik did not go by the conventional election campaigning of walking down to people and engaged in interactions. Instead, he rolled down his vehicle through lanes of Laxmi Sagar and Jharpada area. The Biju Janata Dal president was seen waving to curious onlookers lined up along both sides of the road. On Saturday evening he covered ward-39 and 40.

Finally, he addressed a public meeting at Laxmisagar Melana field where more than 1,000 people gathered to listen to him.

“Orissa has been making progress in all sectors. Capital city has also been witnessing the growth. Bhubaneswar will be our priority,” Mr. Patnaik said. During last couple of years, roads and drainages in the city had improved substantially, he said. Mr. Patnaik called upon people to elect BJD candidates.

Earlier, city police deployed two platoons of police in Laxmi Sagar and Jharpada to control any law and order situation. Chief Minister passed through eight important junctions.

BJD has fielded candidates in all 60 wards of BMC. Its alliance partner, Bharatiya Janata Party too is contesting all 60 seats this time. As the Bhubaneswar has been trifurcated into three Assembly seats, the BMC elections assumed significance.

The party who would manage to win the election would have advantage in the coming Assembly as well as Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, campaigning has gained momentum in the city with candidates approaching voters twice or thrice.

Community feasts in major slums have become order of the day. Since slum dwellers hold key in the ensuing elections, candidates are not showing any misery to throw party for them.

Many habitants of slums, who do odd jobs to eke out their livelihood, have now lighter works for earning handsome amount by their standard. Youths from the slums were employed for outdoor campaigning at a remuneration of Rs. 200 per day.

During next one-week slum, youths who were earlier looked down upon by many would enjoy rare freedom to rub shoulders with those who had electoral interests.

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