Bhubaneswar, Oct. 2: Odisha's ruling party- the BJD - and those in the Opposition - the BJP and the Congress - used Gandhi Jayanti as a pad to launch its preparations for next year's panchayat poll.

BJD president and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today launched his party's month-long Jan Samparka Padayatra from the banks of the Daya river, attacking the Centre for neglecting the state in an apparent bid to generate public opinion ahead of panchayat polls.

Not to be left behind, the BJP observed Lajja Divas (shame day) in all sub-divisions across the state to highlight the government's failure to address important issues. The Congress, too, began its panchayat poll exercise of reaching out to the people to seek opinion before preparing its panchayat election manifesto.

The ruling BJD, which used to organise nine-day padayatras from October 2, has extended the programme to a month to brief people about the Centre's partisan attitude on the Mahanadi dispute and the Polavaram dam controversy.

Launching the padayatra, Naveen accused the Centre of neglecting the cause of Odisha.

"The padayatras are to inform the people about government's welfare programmes and also central government's neglect particularly on Mahanadi and Polavaram issues." Talking about the organisational aspect of the rally, Naveen said: "I have seen over the years that the padayatra has turned to the yatra of sanklap (resolve). The people's relation with the BJD becomes stronger."

Naveen said yesterday the party observed a protest in seven south Odisha districts against the Polavaram project. Raising the Mahanadi issue he said: "It is the lifeline of Odisha. We have sought the Prime Minister's intervention to solve the issue. We are hopeful that he will give justice to us." Naveen also did not spare the Congress.

Without naming the party he said: "Because of the indifferent attitude of national parties, the people have lost their confidence in them."

While reminding the people of various welfare programmes of his government, Naveen said: "My door is open for you 24 hours."

The state chief observer for the padayatra, Pratap Jena, culture minister Ashok Panda and other BJD leaders spoke about the basic objective of the yatra.

"The programme was organised in all the 147 Assembly constituencies. Our workers will reach every nook and corner of the state," Jena told The Telegraph.

At its Lajja Divas events, BJP leaders said that their main focus was to highlight failures of the state government on all fronts, particularly education and health sector.

Party vice-president Pratap Sarangi said: "Here Dana Majhi had to carry the body of his wife for want of an ambulance. The health infrastructure has completely collapsed." The party also criticised the government's teacher on call scheme. "The government is not addressing the teachers' issue. They have been forced to remain on strike for days together," Sarangi said.

Sources said the party's executive committee meeting would be held on October 4 when it would decide its future course of action.

Congress president Prasad Harichandan criticised the state government on the Mahanadi issue saying they were busy trading charges. He said the party would organise a march on the issue soon.