Odisha municipal poll campaign picks up steam

BJP releases manifesto, dares others to do so

The election campaign of various political parties has picked up steam in the state for upcoming urban local body polls with parties sending star campaigners to lure voters and making lucrative promises.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which released its manifesto today, challenged other parties to do so.

The party promised hostel facility for working women in urban areas along with commitment for better road and drinking water facility, saying that other parties did not dare publish their manifesto as they had failed to keep their promises made during the previous poll.

"This manifesto talks about the commitment of BJP towards people living in municipal and NAC notified area council) areas," said K V Singhdeo, president of state BJP unit, after the launch of the manifesto today.

Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), however, refuted the allegations.

"I do not think how the (BJP) manifesto will bring votes since they have very limited presence in the state. BJD, as a party, believes in providing better infrastructure rather than making announcements," said Suryanarayan Patro, state revenue minister.

Congress party, which is facing internal squabbling over leadership issues, did not comment on the manifesto issue.

The parties are keeping a close eye on day-to-day development and announcements as the urban local body polls have become the testing ground for the ensuing assembly polls early 2014. Recently, the BJP lodged an election code violation complain over announcement of Union minister for chemical and fertiliser and senior Congress leader, Srikant Jena to revive the Talcher fertiliser unit.