The people of Hinjili and Bijepur assembly segments in Odisha have a common complaint against BJD candidate and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that they have seen him in television and posters numerous times, they want to have a face-to-face interaction with him.
Though people of both the assembly segments are happy that the chief minister is contesting from their areas, they rue that they hardly find Patnaik canvassing for votes like nominees of rivals-- BJP and Congress.
Patnaik has been elected to the state assembly four times in a row from Hinjili in Ganjam district since 2000.
In addition to seeking a fifth term from the seat, this time he has also entered into fray from Bijepur, a key assembly constituency in western Odisha.
Polling in both Hinjili and Bijepur assembly seats will take place in the second phase on April 18.
While Hinjili is 175 KM from Bhubaneshwar, the distance between the state capital and Bijepur is 348 KM.
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BJD leaders, including ministers are campaigning for Patnaik. But, people are not happy as they want to see the Biju Janata Dal chief in their villages.
"We have seen the chief minister in television and posters, but not in person. We are his strong supporters, but unable to see him," said Rukmani Sahu, a 35-year-old woman self help group member at Shergada. Many others echoed similar views.
Patnaik on April 13 held a roadshow in urban pockets of Hinjili and sought blessings of the people. His roadshow was confined to two blocks of Hinjili and Shergada. But, the constituency is spread over 35 gram panchayats.
Apana mane mote ashirbad karantu, sankha chinhare vote diantu (Please bless me and vote on conch symbol), Patnaik said in Odia during the roadshow.
People from different villages came to urban area to have a glimpse of Patnaik, but many others could not make it to the occasion. People in villages are keen to see the BJD chief undertake door-to-door campaign in rural areas, Sahu said.
The people of Hinjili have no grievance about essential needs like roads, pipe water, electicity, teachers in schools, doctors in hosptals and PDS quota of cheap rice.
However, some of them complained that many farmers have not received the benefits of the KALIA scheme, a government scheme of direct benefit to the farmers.
Opposition BJP nominee Pitambar Acharya, a senior Orissa High Court advocate, has been using the peoples complaint about Patnaik's absence in his favour.
"I am getting maximum response from voters in villages. The people have not seen the BJD candidate and cannot talk to him in Odia as Patnaik hardly speaks in the local language," Acharya, a greenhorn, said.
Exuding confidence that the people of Hinjili would this time vote for BJP, Acharya said: "The farmers of Hinjili have been cheated as they could not get financial assistance under KALIA scheme."