Bhubaneswar, April 24: Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik kicked off his election campaign in his stronghold of the Hinjili Assembly constituency, located in Ganjam district, on Wednesday. Speaking at a public rally in Sheragada, Patnaik launched a fierce critique against the opposition, accusing them of obstructing progress for the sake of opposition.

He highlighted that the opposition was consistently opposing developmental projects initiated by the state government, such as the Puri Parikrama Project, the Ekamra Project, and the Samelei Project. Patnaik asserted that these actions were an attempt to politicize the positive efforts of the government. He emphasized that the people of Odisha were well aware of such tactics and would respond accordingly in the upcoming elections. Patnaik stressed the importance of supporting development initiatives, noting that progress could not be achieved through constant opposition.

Looking ahead, Patnaik pledged that by the centenary year of Odisha's existence as a separate state in 2036, it would rise to become the number one state in the country.

Highlighting the achievements of his government, Patnaik emphasized the transformative impact of initiatives like the empowerment of 7 million individuals through self-help groups (SHGs) and the provision of interest-free loans to farmers. He underscored the empowerment of women through the Misson Shakti program and the distribution of interest-free loans amounting to Rs 18 crore to its members. Patnaik also praised Odisha's leadership in various sectors such as health, education, and disaster management, declaring it the top state in India for women's empowerment, attracting investments, and implementing the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojna (BSKY).

He concluded by highlighting the uniqueness of BSKY and the government's pioneering efforts in allocating a special budget for farmers, which he claimed was the first of its kind in the country.

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