Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already secured over 310 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections after five phases of voting. He confidently stated that the party aims to surpass 400 seats in the final two phases.
During a public meeting in Odisha?s Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency, Shah also set a high target for the state?s simultaneous assembly elections. He said the BJP aims to win more than 75 Assembly seats and form the state government.
?This election is about making the country stronger, re-electing Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for the third time, and developing Odisha while restoring Odia pride,? Shah declared.
He criticized Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his close aide VK Pandian, alleging that they are imposing ?Babushahi? (bureaucratic rule) in the state and disrespecting Odia culture. Shah questioned, ?Should a Tamil babu govern the land of Utkal? Only someone who speaks Odia and upholds the traditions of Lord Jagannath should be entrusted with this job. After 25 years, a government based on Odia language, culture, and literature will be formed in Odisha.?
Shah expressed a vision for Odisha where youths do not have to leave for other states like Maharashtra, Haryana, or Bangalore in search of work. He emphasized that Odisha has ample resources and potential but lacks a hardworking chief minister. ?Elect the BJP, and we will develop Odisha with a dynamic and energetic young CM,? he promised.
He accused the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of neglecting Western Odisha and vowed that the BJP is committed to the state?s all-round development. Shah highlighted several issues, stating, ?27 lakh families in the state do not have houses, 26 lakh households lack drinking water, schools are closed, and the state ranks 29th in ease of doing business. The Naveen Patnaik government is hijacking central schemes and giving only empty bags while Modi ji is providing free rice.?
Shah?s speech clearly outlined the BJP?s ambitious goals and critiques, setting the stage for a heated election battle in Odisha and across India.
