Flagging off his party’s election campaign in Odisha, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the people to elect BJP candidates in all the 21 lok Sabha seats in the State.
“I need 21 Kamals (lotuses) from Odisha to usher in the change that the State badly needs. Unless there is a direct ‘pipeline’ from here to New Delhi and me, I cannot do much for your State even if I become the Prime Minister,” Modi said.
Comparing Odisha with the neighbouring State of Chhattisgarh, both of which were in similar conditions 10 years ago, Modi said that while the latter has marched ahead, Odisha has not moved an inch and remained the poorest State despite its abundant natural resources.
A major part of Modi’s speech was devoted to Odisha. He sought to strike an emotional chord with the people by invoking lord Jagannath and late Biju Patnaik.