Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his around half an hour visit to Chhendipada in Angul district inaugurated and laid foundation stone for many projects and addressed a public meeting. He projected former three-time Talcher MlA Mahesh Sahu as BJD candidate for the Chhendipada Assembly seat. Sahu attended the Chief Minister’s meeting at Chhendipada on the instruction of the party high command.
It may be noted here that Congress supported Independent MlA of Talcher Braja Kishore Pradhan has recently joined the BJD. May be Pradhan is going get BJD ticket for Talcher Assembly seat and to ensure that he wins with a thumping majority, Sahu’s support is needed. In this situation, not to antagonise Sahu, the party high command has declared him as candidate for the Chhendipada seat, viewed the observers here.
During Patnaik’s meeting, the speech of present MlA Khageswar Behera was interrupted by aggrieved people. Behera is opposed by the people at large due to his anti people stand in favour of industries.
Patnaik inaugurated many projects, including a bridge constructed at `2.22 crore on Changudia— Chhendipada road. He urged the people to raise their voice against the UPA Govt for its partisan attitude towards the State. Police arrested four persons of ‘Koilakhani Khyatigrastha Praja Sangha’ of Kankarei, who had gone to the meeting place to submit a
memorandum.