In Bhubaneswar, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, asserted during a rally that the Congress party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are dim, foreseeing their inability to secure even 50 seats and obtain opposition party status thereafter.
At a campaign event held in Phulbani within the Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha, he emphasized the formation of a “double engine” administration in the state, affirming the appointment of a native individual, well-versed in Odia language and culture, as the chief minister of the BJP-led government.
Reflecting on the achievements of the prior BJP administration under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he commemorated the Pokhran tests conducted 26 years ago, citing their role in bolstering the nation’s global standing.
In a critique directed at the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), he accused the party of being out of touch with the populace’s concerns and realities, predicting overwhelming support for the BJP in both the state Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha.
PM Modi, following a roadshow in Bhubaneswar the previous day, highlighted the efforts of the BJP-led central government in enhancing the education sector in Odisha. He noted the establishment of the National Institute of Science Education and Research during their tenure, along with the expansion of IIT-Bhubaneswar, aiming to facilitate student needs and foster innovation.
Over the past decade, the Prime Minister remarked on the government’s endeavors to enhance the quality of life in Bhubaneswar through various infrastructure projects, including the expansion of highways such as the Tangi-Bhubaneswar section of NH-16, with ongoing initiatives aimed at bolstering connectivity across the region.
PM Modi also lauded the positive impact of Vande Bharat trains on Bhubaneswar’s connectivity with Rourkela and Puri, underscoring plans to upgrade the city’s railway station to accommodate growing passenger traffic.
Expressing gratitude for the warm reception received during the Bhubaneswar roadshow, PM Modi highlighted the significance of the occasion coinciding with Akshaya Tritiya, a major festival in Odisha. He reiterated the government’s commitment to the welfare of the people of Odisha and the Odia community.
Odisha is set to conduct Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in four phases from May 13 to June 1, with vote counting slated for June 4. In the previous 2019 elections, the BJD secured 112 out of 146 Assembly seats, while the BJP and Congress won 23 and 9 seats, respectively. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJD emerged victorious in 12 out of 21 seats, closely followed by the BJP with 8 seats, and Congress with a solitary seat.