Before notification for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, expected by March 10, BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is all set to complete his district visits. Patnaik has so far completed his tour to as many as 24 districts and six more will be completed in next week.
Sources close to Patnaik said that the BJD president used to visit all the districts before notification held for elections. He had done so in earlier occasions also. Patnaik, who started his district visit programme from Balangir, has so far toured Cuttack, Balangir, Puri, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Baleswar, Kendrapara, Kalahandi, Boudh, Jajpur, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Angul, Nuapada, Rayagada, Khurda, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh.
During his visits to districts, Patnaik inaugurated projects and also laid foundation stones for some others besides attending the convention of farmers, women and youths, his focus being voters for the 2019 elections. The BJD leaders are encouraged as Patnaik, the lone star campaigner for the ruling party, has been receiving tremendous response from the people, particularly from the women.
Youths in large numbers also throng his meetings as the State Government has already raised the Biju Yuva Vahini. The women, who generally do not attend public meetings, however, throng the CM’s conventions with great enthusiasm.