BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday asked his party leaders to highlight the “Centre’s negligence” towards Odisha during campaign for the panchayat elections.
Patnaik said this while addressing the district and block-level poll observers of the party.
“Tell the people in rural areas about the issues relating to the Mahanadi, Polavaram project, stoppage of funds for different welfare schemes and the Centre’s negligence towards backward and tribal dominated areas in the State,” he said.
Keeping the target to secure maximum seats in the Panchayati Raj Institutions, Patnaik said people should also be made aware on the “good works” done by the State Government.
Party sources said that 126 poll observers and many senior leaders attended the meeting.
The BJD has fielded candidates in all the 851 Zila Parishad seats going to the polls in five different phases from February 13.