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Amid BJP's push in Odisha to improve its performance in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls being held simultaneously, Home Minister Amit Shah has said that people of the state want change and think that "someone else is running the government".
In an interview with ANI, Shah said that the matter of Odisha's pride has become increasingly important. He said the Odisha Chief Minister should accept that Odisha has not developed as some other states like Gujarat and Maharashtra. "Even Naveen Patnaik should accept that Odisha is not as developed as other states with a stable government like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh... People there want change... I believe that the matter of Odisha's pride has become increasingly important. There is a perception that someone else is running the government behind Naveen Patnaik," he said. "The issue of pride in the Odia language, culture, literature, and art has become significant," he added. Shah alleged that the administration sought to prevent the large participation of people in the Ram Janmabhoomi Pran Pratishtha and they are upset. On remarks of BJD leaders that the BJP does not have a CM face in Odisha, Shah said that the party has strong leadership and experienced individuals, and does not face a leadership crisis. "We have good leadership and very experienced people. Several experienced leaders from their party have joined us. We do not have a leadership crisis," he said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is steering the Biju Janata Dal for a sixth straight term in office in the assembly polls. BJD leaders have challenged the BJP to declare its chief ministerial candidate in the state. BJD leader VK Pandian, a close aide of CM Naveen Patnaik, said last week that BJP leaders have been "daydreaming" of forming a government in the state for the past 10 years. "I ask the BJP - do the people of Odisha not deserve to know who is the BJP CM candidate? Let the people decide between Naveen Patnaik and the BJP candidate. Is it not the right of the people to know this? But the BJP is afraid to declare their CM candidate because they know that if they choose anyone of the current leaders , their party will get less than 10 per cent votes. I challenge the BJP to declare the CM candidate," he said Lok Sabha and assembly polls are being held simultaneously in Odisha. The four-phased Lok Sabha and assembly elections started on May 13 and will also be held on May 20, May 25 and June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)
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