Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, during his visit of Sundargarh district on Saturday for campaigning in the UlB elections, admitted that demand of a High Court Bench in western Odisha was a key political issue and claimed that his Government was doing its best to materilise the long cherished dream of the locals.
With Biramitrapur, Rajgangpur and Sundargarh UlBs going to polls, Pattnaik made a whirlwind tour across the district and addressed meetings in the three towns. He appealed voters to support the BJD candidates and made some promises also. “The BJD has been strongly in favour of establishing a HC bench in western Odisha since 2008 and accordingly, has made a recommendation to the Center for the same,” asserted Patnaik, while at the same time blaming the Center for neglecting and delaying the matter.
Patnaik further said, “My Government has been emphasizing on the development of western Odisha and accordingly, we have been allocating extra funds for the development of the area. We have also launched recently a farmer insurance policy, which will benefit lakhs of farmers of the area.”
While addressing at Rajgangpur, Patnaik described BJD as a ‘Mati ra Party’ (party of soil) and sought support of the local people so that the party can bring all-round development in the whole of Odisha. Among others, Rajya Sabha MP Mangala Kisan, State Commerce and Transport Minister Subrat Tarai and State Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das were present.