Bhubaneswar, Aug. 7: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Opposition Congress are ready to show off their strengths on August 9 on the occasion of Quit India Day. On that day, both the parties will organise rallies virtually to launch their campaign for the forthcoming panchayat polls.

The parties will approach the electorate from August 9 through different programmes and rallies. The panchayat elections are scheduled to be held in 2012.

While the Congress plans to organise state-wide agitation on August 9, the BJD youth wing will stage a youth rally in Cuttack. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will address the rally, which is expected to be attended by 30,000 youths from across the state.

While the Congress has decided to target BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on corruption issues, the BJD will be playing its ‘pet theme’ — the Center’s step-motherly attitude towards Orissa.

Congress spokesperson Arya Kumar Gyanedra said: “The party has been asked to organise meetings and rallies at district-level demanding resignation of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, whose government has been embroiled in a series of scams during the last one and half year.”

Gyanendra further said a memorandum would be submitted by the district Congress units to Governor M.C. Bhandare through collectors. “The memorandum will touch various points starting from dal scam to mining scam,” he added.

On the other hand, Biju Janata Dal’s youth wing president Sanjay Dasburma said the Congress had no right to accuse the government. “The Congress is in deep mess as the party is facing many corruption cases, starting from 2G spectrum to the Adarsh housing scam. It has no moral right to take up the issue of corruption. The Centre’s negligence to the cause of Orissa is a matter of concern.”

Dasburma said the party would highlight issues such as negligence of the railways ministry, denial of special category status to the state and revision of minerals royalty.

He said the party would make every effort to make people aware of the developmental works being done by the state government. “A series of measures has been taken to uplift the conditions of common man,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Mahanadi Banchao Committee has also decided to organise a rally on August 9 in Cuttack in support of their demand that no water from the river be given for industrial use. Senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said: “The BJD and the Congress do not have any public issue to take up. The Mahanadi Banchao Committee is taking all into confidence and will mobilise public opinion in favour of Mahanadi river.”