Bhubaneswar, June 1: The NDA's Making of Developed India (Modi) Fest, aimed at showcasing its achievements in the past three years, sparked a fierce war of words between the BJP and the BJD.

While the BJP claimed it was a humble attempt at highlighting the milestones of the Narendra Modi government, the BJD alleged a blatant misuse of official machinery in the "politically motivated" exercise. It accused the NDA government was using resources of central PSUs to ensure the fest's success and threatened to hit the streets over the issue.

Sanjay Das Burma, BJD general secretary in charge of youth affairs, alleged that 45 government bodies, including Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation had been roped in for the fest that has strong political undertones.

He said the state government had sought support from central organisations, such as Nalco, MCL and the Rourkela Steel Plant, after it had launched the Aahar scheme to provide cheap meals to the poor. All the companies had assured help, but withdrew at the last moment, apparently under political pressure, he said.

"We will not tolerate this misuse of public money and government machinery for ensuring the success of the Modi government's programme," the former minister said.

Beginning tomorrow, the fest showcasing the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government since assuming office in 2014, would be organised in 30 towns and cities of the state in three phases. "There will be exhibitions and audio vans highlighting the NDA government's work. Party leaders from the Centre and the state would take part in these programmes," said state BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.

The first phase will cover Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Sundargarh and Gajapati, while Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Balasore, Deogarh, Kalahandi and Koraput would be included in the second phase. In the third phase, the fest will come to Kendrapara, Jajpur, Sambalpur and Bargarh. "Campaign vans with LED screens will start making rounds in the towns at least three days ahead of the scheduled programme. Central and state leaders will be present to highlight the government's achievements," said state BJP spokesperson Dilip Mohanty.

Though BJP leaders asserted that the Fest was strictly a government programme, they admitted that they also stood to gain from the event. "The party's image will get a boost, but no political meaning should be attached to it," said Sharma.

However, BJD secretary Bijay Nayak alleged that the programme was aimed exclusively at strengthening the BJP and the government machinery was being misused for the purpose. "This is deplorable. Central PSU's denied support when the state government had sought support for the Aahar scheme, but now they are supporting the Modi Fest," said Nayak.

The BJP has been engaged in a battle for supremacy with the BJD for some time. It intensified in the wake of the last panchayat elections, which saw the BJP making major gains in certain districts.