· Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian slammed the BJP.
· Criticising the BJP’s election manifesto for Odisha, Pandian said, “The saffron party has made tall promises in its election manifesto but they are all hollow and false assurances.
· He lamented the absence of vocal advocacy by BJP Members of Parliament for Odisha’s interests in the national arena.
· The seasoned BJD leader reserved his sharpest barbs for Pradhan, questioning the minister’s alleged inaction on critical infrastructural projects.
· In a fervent endorsement of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s leadership, Pandian extolled Patnaik’s unwavering commitment to Odisha’s progress.
· Pandian reiterated the BJD’s commitment to prioritize the people of Odisha and their welfare in its manifesto, promising a campaign grounded in tangible deliverables rather than empty rhetoric.
In a charged press conference held in Gopalpur, VK Pandian, a towering figure within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) hierarchy and the Chairman of both the 5T initiative and Nabin Odisha, unleashed a scathing critique aimed squarely at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its electoral campaign in Odisha. With the fervor of a seasoned political strategist, Pandian minced no words as he dissected the BJP’s track record and castigated its promises, particularly targeting Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Education Minister and BJP’s candidate for the Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency.
Pandian’s critique centered on the perceived hollowness of the BJP’s electoral manifesto for Odisha, labeling its promises as mere façades lacking in substance. He lamented the absence of vocal advocacy by BJP Members of Parliament for Odisha’s interests in the national arena, juxtaposing it with the unwavering commitment of the BJD to champion the state’s welfare and development.
The seasoned BJD leader reserved his sharpest barbs for Pradhan, questioning the minister’s alleged inaction on critical infrastructural projects such as the long-awaited national highway from Cuttack to Sambalpur, despite his extended tenure in the Union government. Pandian also spotlighted Pradhan’s purported neglect of Odisha’s education system and developmental needs, drawing a sharp contrast with the BJD’s initiatives, including the establishment of technologically advanced smart schools across the state.
In a fervent endorsement of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s leadership, Pandian extolled Patnaik’s unwavering commitment to Odisha’s progress, contrasting it with what he characterized as the fleeting attention of opposition leaders. Pandian emphasized Patnaik’s track record of fulfilling promises and his profound understanding of the state’s aspirations, predicting electoral success for the BJD based on this legacy of governance.
Pandian’s remarks reverberated with a theme of skepticism towards the BJP’s electoral promises and a staunch belief in the BJD’s dedication to Odisha’s advancement. As the electoral contest in Odisha intensifies, Pandian’s strategic articulation sets the stage for a fiercely contested battle, with the electorate poised to deliver its verdict based on competing visions for the state’s future.
As the press conference concluded, Pandian reiterated the BJD’s commitment to prioritize the people of Odisha and their welfare in its manifesto, promising a campaign grounded in tangible deliverables rather than empty rhetoric. With the political landscape in Odisha poised for upheaval, Pandian’s impassioned address sets the tone for a high-stakes electoral showdown where the will of the people will ultimately decide the state’s trajectory.
