VK Pandian accused the saffron party of making false and hollow promises in its manifesto and termed them as ‘Joomla’.
· Pandian accused BJP leaders of disrespecting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and even the revered deity Lord Jagannath during their election campaigns in Odisha.
· Delving into the specifics of BJP’s electoral promises, Pandian highlighted their intentions to dismantle existing welfare schemes like Mission Shakti and BSKY.
· Pandian defended the governance record of Naveen Patnaik, citing the successful implementation of various welfare schemes aimed at students, women, farmers, and youths.
· He accused the BJP of resorting to populist rhetoric to win votes without genuine concern for the welfare of the people.
In a recent address, VK Pandian, a prominent figure within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Chairman of 5T, launched a scathing critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he labelled as deceptive election pledges. His remarks shed light on the intricate dynamics of Odisha’s political landscape, where competing narratives vie for the electorate’s attention and trust.
Pandian did not hold back in his criticism of BJP leaders, accusing them of disrespecting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and even the revered deity Lord Jagannath during their election campaigns in Odisha. He emphasized the deep cultural and spiritual significance of these figures in Odisha’s identity, stating unequivocally that dragging them into the political arena would not be tolerated by the people of the state. Such behavior, Pandian asserted, reflects poorly on the BJP’s understanding of Odisha’s ethos and values.
Delving into the specifics of BJP’s electoral promises, Pandian highlighted their intentions to dismantle existing welfare schemes like Mission Shakti and BSKY should they come to power in Odisha. He pointed out what he saw as the hypocrisy of BJP’s proposal to replace BSKY with Ayushman Bharat, a scheme catering only to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, while BSKY benefits a broader spectrum of the population. Pandian made a firm commitment that under the BJD government, every citizen of Odisha would be included in the BSKY Naveen card scheme, ensuring comprehensive welfare coverage.
Pandian staunchly defended the governance record of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, citing the successful implementation of various welfare schemes aimed at students, women, farmers, and youths. He underscored the BJD’s commitment to inclusive development and criticized the BJP for neglecting the interests of the youth and failing to address them adequately in their manifesto.
Questioning the credibility of BJP’s electoral promises, Pandian scrutinized proposals such as free electricity and a promise of higher Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. He accused the BJP of resorting to populist rhetoric to win votes without genuine concern for the welfare of the people. Additionally, he dismissed BJP’s Subhadra Yojana as yet another deceptive scheme aimed at garnering support without delivering tangible benefits to the people of Odisha.
VK Pandian’s comprehensive critique offers a nuanced perspective on the unfolding political contestation in Odisha. It underscores the high stakes involved as parties vie for the trust and support of the electorate, with the BJD positioning itself as the guardian of Odisha’s interests against what it perceives as BJP’s hollow promises and opportunistic politics.
(With inputs from agencies)
