Sambalpur: Campaigning for bypoll to the Bijepur Assembly constituency is slowly gaining momentum.

Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday addressed a series of public meetings in the constituency. He came down heavily on the BJD led by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, saying that the party had not done anything for the people in the last 18 years of rule.

"In Bijepur, there is no drinking water, no irrigation facilities for the farmers, no schools, no teachers, no doctors and no hospitals," Pradhan said. He said now the BJD has been promising so many things including Gangadhar Meher Irrigation Project for Bijepur, but in practice it has not allotted any money for the project in the last supplementary budget placed in the Assembly.

Describing Naveen as "anti-people and pro-industry", Pradhan alleged that Naveen's government was looking into the interests of the capitalists ignoring the claim of the common people.

He addressed meetings in Guderpali, Bhatigaon, Badipala, Kanapura, Taalpada , Budupali and Manpur.

Congress candidate Pran-ay Sahu also made a door-to-door campaign on Sunday.