For the first time in three years, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hit the campaign trail on Friday for the December 5 Padampur bypoll, promising to fight for the cause of farmers and kendu leaf workers, whose numbers are significant in the constituency.
Patnaik, the president of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), spoke in front of large crowds at three rallies in Jharbandh, Paikmal, and Padampur, seeking votes for party candidate Barsha Singh Bariha. He accused the BJP of “shedding crocodile tears” over farmer issues, higher GST, and rail access to the constituency.
“The Centre’s BJP government is levying 18 per cent GST on kendu leaves. Do you know the GST on gold? It’s only 3 per cent. The BJP workers will not raise their voice against this injustice,” said CM Naveen Patnaik.
Patnaik last campaigned physically for Rita Sahu in the Bijepur byelection in October 2019. She won by a whopping 97,990 votes. Despite the fact that five by-elections have been held since then, the Chief Minister has remained largely silent on the campaign trail.
His entry into the Padampur race underscores the importance of the battle for the ruling party, which will seek a sixth consecutive term in the Assembly elections in 2024.
While Bariha was on the dais at all three rallies, senior BJD leaders were also seen sharing the stage with the Chief Minister, which has been unusual in the ruling party in recent years. Many local elected leaders were also allowed to address the Chief Minister from the dais.
Patnaik also invoked Nrusinghanath, the region’s presiding deity, and celebrated poet Gangadhar Meher, who was born in the region.
Accusing the Centre of failing to settle farmers’ claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, a key issue that dominated the election narrative in the agrarian-rich constituency, Patnaik said the BJP-led Union government awoke from its slumber after agitating farmers prevented the BJP candidate (Pradip Purohit) from filing his nomination and cleared dues owed for 18 months in just 48 hours.
In response to the Centre’s promise of rail connectivity to Padampur, he questioned whether the BJP even knew where the railway station is in Padampur.
Patnaik also criticised the central government for failing to address issues such as the distribution of ST scholarships, the inclusion of 169 Odisha communities on the ST list, and the allocation of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He also announced a plan to spend at least Rs 1 crore in each panchayat of Padampur to speed up development and to visit the constituency with a development report card by 2024.
The BJD also accused Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of encouraging a female journalist to assault Odisha Agriculture Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain during his Padampur bypoll campaign, and demanded “suitable action” against him. In this regard, the regional party submitted a memorandum to the chief electoral officer.