Bhubaneswar, Oct. 25: The fortnight-long Jan Sampark Padyatra of the BJD was concluded today with chief minister Naveen Patnaik leading the show in the city.
This was the party’s first mass contact programme after the general elections that sent Naveen to power for the fourth consecutive term and the recent Kandhamal by-poll, which the party won by a record margin.
The ministers and party MLAs, on the other hand, took part in the programme in their respective areas.
The footmarch, which is usually held every year from October 2 coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, was rescheduled this year in view of Durga Puja and cyclone Hudhud. The rescheduled mass contact programme was launched on October 11.
Accompanied by the local MP, MLAs and city mayor, Naveen today took part in the march, followed by a meeting at Kedarpally in Bapuji Nagar.
Only tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda, who happens to be a city MLA, was present on the occasion.
BJD general secretary Narendra Kumar Swain said: “Ministers have been asked to attend the programme in their respective areas. The padyatra was successfully organised across the state.”
Naveen interacted with residents of a nearby slum while going on the march that had lasted for a few minutes. Stating that BJD being a regional party was aware of its responsibility, the 69-year-old leader said his party had continued its struggle to safeguard Odisha’s interest. “My party has also consolidated itself in the national politics,” he averred.
The state’s progress in various spheres has also attracted national and global attention, said the chief minister while highlighting achievements of his government.
“Various social security schemes (including Re 1-a-kg rice scheme) have helped improving the living standards of the people of the state,” he said. The BJD chief called upon the party leaders and workers to reach out the people and spread the message of achievements of his government. He claimed that soon after the general elections held in May, his government started fulfilling the electoral promises to the people. “My government and party will continue to work towards fulfilling the unfulfilled dreams of Biju Babu,” he said.