That the BJP is likely to field its Mahila Morcha State president Pravati Parida from her home Assembly constituency Nimapara in the coming elections was further evident from Parida’s participation in the party’s Mahila Suraksha Yatra on its first day on Thursday in the Nimapara area and not in the State capital despite her being the head of the party’s women’s wing.
Parida led the women protection programme from the Kakatpur Mangala Temple accompanied by thousands of women workers and supporters of the party. TheYatra would continue till May 29 in the area as part of the programme across the State with a message that the BJD Government has failed to protect women from being raped, murdered and also otherwise tortured.
The Yatra reached Nimapara in the afternoon, after which a public meeting was held at the Purneswar Temple premises. Mahila Morcha Puri district vice-president Tapaswini Behera coordinated the meeting. Along with Pravati Parida, actress Mahasweta Ray, who recently joined the BJP, Morcha State general secretary Simantini Jena, route coordinator Aiswarya Biswal, Morcha’s Nimapara NAC women president Minalata Mohanty and Sarpanch Baspalata Pradhan spoke at the meeting.