Union Education Minister and BJP’s Sambalpur Lok Sabha nominee Dharmendra Pradhan addressed a series of meetings in Balangir and Nuapada district on Saturday where he launched a sharp attack on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government on a host of issues and urged the people to vote for the BJP in the ensuing elections to see Narendra Modi as PM for the third time and form a double-engine Government in Odisha.

He said most of the young women and girls from Hinjili in Ganjam district, which the Chief Minister has been representing for many years, are going to Dadan Khat. Similarly, under the Naveen Government, Balangir and Nuapada have become migration hotspots. “Is this transformation of Odisha in the last 24 years of BJD rule?” he said.

The Union Minister participated in Paritvartan rallies in Khariar constituency of Nuapada and Kantabanji, Titilagarh and Loisingha constituencies of Balangir and campaigned for the party candidates.
He dared the Chief Minister to publish a white paper on the development works undertaken and employment or self-employment given to the youths in Hinjili and Kantbanji, where he has been contesting elections.

Making a veiled attack on BJD leader VK Pandian, Pradhan said some outsiders conspire to come from behind to rule in Odishan taking advantage of the weakness of the CM. “Those who think they will capture Odisha, this election will give them a befitting answer,” he said, adding that Odisha's culture, language and traditions are under threat in the BJD Government.

He also said that Odisha is the only State where OBCs are not given reservation in education despite having constitutional rights.