Corruption has risen under BJD rule, time to bless BJP: Nadda in Odisha

BJP chief JP Nadda. File pic

On Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda directed an attack at the ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha indicating that there was "corruption" and urged the people to favour the BJP in the assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a public meeting in the Bargarh district on Thursday, just a little ahead of the fifth phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections on May 20, Nadda said that if voted to power, the BJP will implement welfare schemes for people including women.

"Is corruption taking place under BJD rule or not? Officers are indulging in corruption or not...they have embezzled crores of rupees," he said. "Will you let these people come to power again?... This is the time to bless the BJP party by making it win," he added. According to Nadda, the chief minister of Odisha needs to be a leader who is your brother, understands the state's culture, and speaks its language. "It is a question of Odisha's self-pride," he said, reported ANI.

Nadda said Modi completely changed the political landscape after coming to power, focusing on development and performance. He also accused the opposition parties of trying to create divisions and indulging in appeasement and vote bank politics. "The strategy was 'divide and rule'. However, in the last decade, Modi has transformed the definition of politics. Today, politics is about development and performance." he said.

Per an ANI report, Nadda also talked about India becoming the fifth-largest economy during the rule of the BJP-led government and said the country will become the third-largest economy in three years if the party-led NDA is re-elected in the Lok Sabha polls. "Today, under Modi's leadership, India has surpassed Britain to become the world's fifth-largest economy. Now, let's make Modi the Prime Minister again... Modiji will become the Prime Minister for the third time, and within three years, India will become the world's third-largest economy," he said.

Nadda also discussed India's advancements in drug production and the pace at which coronavirus vaccines are being developed. The assembly and Lok Sabha polls for Odisha are being held across four phases--from May 13 to June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. In the last assembly elections in 2019, the BJD won 112 out of 146 seats. BJP won 23 seats and Congress got nine seats. It is just a matter of time, that we see if Nadda's attacks bear fruit.

(With Inputs for ANI)