Even as Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik began his campaigning for the September 19 elections to urban local bodies (UlBs) from Thursday, the main Opposition party Congress in set to rope in several Union Ministers for its electioneering in different parts of the State.
Besides Srikant Jena, the State’s only Minister at the Centre, the other Union Ministers to join the Congress’ campaigning include Chiranjeevi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Jairam Ramesh and Kishore Chandra Deo. This was informed by PCC president Jaysdev Jena on Thursday.
The PCC chief said his party would soon submit a list of star campaigners to the State Election Commission. Jena said he would start campaign for party candidates from Friday. All the former PCC presidents and former Chief Ministers would also campaign for the party, he added. It may be noted that the BJD and the BJP submitted their lists of star campaigners for the UlB polls to the State Election Commission on Tuesday.