Hours before BJP national president Amit Shah’s arrival here, Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday expressed his ‘doubt’ over the saffron party’s mission to capture 120 Assembly seats in the next elections.
“I doubt very much whether they (BJP) will get so many seats,” Patnaik said replying to mediapersons’ query on the BJP’s claim being reiterated after Amit Shah’s declaration of the 120-seat mission.
In his reaction, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Chief Minister’s doubt would help the BJP reach its mission.
“Was it expected that the Chief Minister would wish success for the BJP mission 120,” Pradhan wanted to know from reporters when they asked him to comment on Patnaik’s “doubt”.
“People in villages will decide on whom to support. The BJD and Naveen Patnaik are rivals of the BJP. let Patnaik and the BJD do their work. The BJP is going to people with its plans and programmes,” he said, adding that the schemes and programmes of the Narendra Modi Government have already received huge support from people across the country.
He said BJP national president Amit Shah is frequently visiting the State to train workers on organisational and political issues. During the present three-day visit, Shah would hold discussions on a total of 26 political and organisational issues with the State-to-ZP level functionaries.
“Happenings like Nagada, Dana Majhi, weak education and health systems, lack of power connectivity and dearth of drinking water are bright examples of failures of the BJD’s 17 years’ rule. Amit Shah’s mission is meant to uproot the BJD rule and bring development in Odisha. He will make preparations as an election battle general,” said Pradhan.