Bhubaneswar, Sept. 25: The BJD today indicated that "neglect by the Centre" would be its main plank for the coming panchayat polls, due in February-March next year.
"Neglect by the Centre has been impeding the state's growth just like natural calamities. Be it BJP-led NDA or Congress-led UPA government, they have had no sympathy for Odisha. For them, their party's political interest is more important than the state's interest," chief minister Naveen Patnaik told his party functionaries here.
Speaking at a party event organised here ahead of its "Jana Sampark Abhiyan" (mass contact campaign), scheduled to be launched from Gandhi Jayanti, Naveen asked his party men to convince the people about the neglect meted out to Odisha by successive central governments and the good works done by his government.
Stating that the regional outfit will continue its fight on Mahanadi and Polavaram issues alone, the BJD supremo asked the party men to go to people during the campaign, understand their problems and bring them to his notice. With the popular slogan "Maa, Maati and Manush" of Mamata Banerjee on his lips, Naveen said his party would continue to fight to protect the pride and self-respect of the state and the rights of its people.
On the other hand, criticising the chief minister's statement on Mahanadi issue in the assembly yesterday, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra today said: "Ignoring the views of the entire House, including his own colleagues, the chief minister said that he would go alone and fight for Mahanadi. This speaks of his dictatorial attitude."
Stating that Naveen had tried to show his heroism inside the House, Mishra said, "He turned out to be a villain."
It was expected that a unanimous resolution would be passed in the House asking Chhattisgarh government to stop construction of barrages in the upstream of Mahanadi, on the conclusion of a two-day debate on the vexed issue. But that did not happen as the chief minister in his concluding address criticised both Congress and BJP and said his government would fight the issue alone. Blaming both the parties for the present imbroglio, Naveen said: "They are now doing " kumbhira kandana (shedding crocodiles' tears)."
Reacting to it, Mishra remarked: "He (Naveen) has failed miserably to lead the House and the people of Odisha. He may win elections. But history will never recognise him either as a leader or statesman."
BJP leader Pradip Purohit said that the BJD was trying to salvage its lost image by raising the bogey of central neglect. "But the people will not believe this as Odisha is getting special attention in the NDA regime."
The BJD today set the preparations for coming panchayat polls on motion, while the Congress, the main Opposition party in the state, geared up party machinery for the same by holding a conference of block-level party functionaries called "Sankalpa Samavesh".
The conference was addressed by AICC general secretary in charge of the state B.K. Hariprasad, state unit president Prasad Harichandan and several senior leaders. Harichandan said the organisational revamp of the party right up to the grass root level had been finalised. The constitution of gram panchayat task force in all the 6800 gram panchayats would be completed by next month.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has constituted the Pradesh Panchayat Election Committee, Manifesto Committee, and nominated the district in-charges for the panchayat polls in Odisha, said an AICC release.
