Bhubaneswar, April 22: The state BJP today began its two-day state executive meeting at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, about 250km from here. The meeting is being held in the backdrop of party's success in the recent panchayat polls.
In the panchayat election, the party almost routed its rival BJD in Mayurbhanj district and formed the zila parishad there. The party had won 48 of the 56 zila parishad seats in the district. In 2012 rural poll, the ruling BJD got 40 zila parishad seats in the district, while the BJP had only one.
The party's choice of the district was important because, at its national executive meet held on April 15 and 16 in Bhubaneswar, a resolution had been passed asking the leaders to focus on the tribal people. In this regard, they party passed a resolution stressing on the need to emphasise the value of jan, van and jal dhan (people, forest and water).
Though all the party leaders were present on the opening day of the state executive meeting, two of its most senior leaders - Bijoy Mohapatra, who enjoy a considerable clout in the coastal belt and helped the party make inroads in the coastal belt, and former Union minister and Rorukela MLA Dilip Ray - were absent.
The two leaders are also not expected to attend the concluding day meet as they have another engagement in Rourkela.
On the other hand, two central ministers - Union tribal welfare minister Jual Oram and Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan - are scheduled to attend the concluding day meet tomorrow at Baripada.
Though a crack has already been noticed in the party, it today passed two resolutions and as usual targeted the Naveen Patnaik government. The state executive thanked the people of the state for reposing their faith in the Prime Minister and giving him a rousing welcome on his visit to the state to attend its national executive meet.
BJP general secretary Dillp Mohanty said: "Modi ji has made Odisha a laboratory to bring about a change in the lives of the poor. The Modi government has given its due to the state."
Terming the Naveen Panaik government as an inefficient one, the state executive tried to showcase how the Centre had given a huge amount of money to the state and allocated Rs 5,971 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. However, it remained silent on the state's demand for a special-category status.
The party also passed a resolution to make create a "new Odisha" on the lines of Modi's call for a "new India". It promised everything under the sun to the people of the state, ranging from employment to the youths to round-the-clock water and electricity supply.
The state executive also raised concern over the rising attacks on women in the state. "Women are not getting the right kind of respect and dignity in the state," said Dilip Mohanty.
However, the BJD denied the charge. "We have great respect for women. The Naveen Patnaik government has done a lot for the cause of the women," said BJD spokesperson Samir Dash.
Congress leader Sarat Rout, however, sounded dismissive of the BJP. "No one likes the BJP. It won't succeed," he said.
