Hectic campaigning was witnessed by candidates from all political parties for the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on Sunday as Monday is the last day of campaign. The polls would be held on January 8.
It is expected that all the candidates would pull out all stops in the last ditch effort to lure the voters on Monday, sources said.
BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday hit the campaign trail for the party candidates and attended meetings at Khandagiri, Dharma Vihar, Dumuduma, Aiginia, Subhas Nagar Basti and other slum areas. He appealed the voters to take part in the development process of the BMC by choosing his party candidates.
Not to be far behind, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Jaydev Jena also addressed a series of meetings at BDA Colony, Sailashree Vihar and other areas with their candidates and sought support of the people to win the elections. Union Minister Srikant Jena and party’s senior leader Kishore Patel took part in the processions.
The rejuvenated BJP also left no stone unturned in persuading the voters to win the BMC polls. Party’s senior leader and former Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan addressed several meetings at laxmi Vihar on Sunday, seeking votes for his party candidates. He criticised the BJD Government for not addressing the basic problems of the city residents during its tenure.
The independent candidates, whose campaign lacked sparkle in absence of gaudy procession and star campaigners, were trying to win over voters by visiting every house and meeting every resident.
The BJD used Odia film star Anubhav as star campaigner at Rasulgarh (Ward-19). The BJD and Congress massively used campaign materials like posters, banners and equipment like decorative moving platforms.