Bhubaneswar, Feb. 24: With the rural poll results scheduled to be declared tomorrow, an upbeat BJP today criticised the state government, prompting the latter to hit back in retaliation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today targeted the Naveen Patnaik government for poverty and lack of development in Odisha at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a rally at Gonda, Modi said: "Whenever the issues of starvation, illiteracy and unemployment are discussed, Odisha is cited as an example. I am sure if the poor people of Odisha have come out in support of the BJP, nothing will be left for other parties in the state."

Modi, who had refrained from making any comments on Naveen during his visits to the state, started targeting his government after the BJP's impressive showing in the rural polls. Besides, Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram and Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan also took potshots at Naveen.

This has not gone down well with the BJD. Party spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said the BJP had been a coalition partner with the BJD here for nine years.

"We are yet to know who is telling the truth. During his visit to the Make in Odisha Conclave held here, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley had praised Odisha's development. But, the Prime Minister is giving another picture," he said.

Deb asked: "If Modi thinks Odisha is poverty-stricken, why is he not coming out with a special package for the state?"

The BJD leaders today also asserted that people had reposed their confidence in the BJD in the rural polls and the BJP should stop crowing over its so-called "spectacular performance".

Addressing a news conference here, panchayati raj minister Arun Sahu, food and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma and Puri MP Pinaki Mishra countered the charges made by Oram and Pradhan.

The BJP leaders claimed the party had got 55 to 60 per cent votes in the panchayat polls and emerged as the most popular party.

On this, Sahu said: "The BJP has got only 33 per cent votes."

The BJD leaders said the people had rejected the BJP in the areas that were home to state party president Basant Panda and the two Union ministers. "They should stop daydreaming about forming the next government in the state," said Das Burma.

They also accused Pradhan of neglecting Odisha's cause in case of tax exemption to the Indian Oil's refinery project in Paradip. "The Odisha government has done the right thing by withdrawing the tax exemption to the project as the company had last year earned a profit of Rs 15,800 crore. As Pradhan is in charge of the department, he should have initiated this step to protect state's interests," said Mishra.

However, former minister and BJD vice-president Surya Narayan Patro said: "The chief minister has launched various welfare schemes for the poor. However, the lower-rung officials asked for bribes from the targeted beneficiaries before extending them these benefits that angered the people. This was reflected in the panchayat polls."