TNI Bureau: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday held a crucial organisational meeting with the party’s 2024 Assembly election candidates at Shankha Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, reviewing the party’s organisational strength across constituencies and calling for preparations for the upcoming Panchayat and urban local body elections. The meeting lasted for nearly two hours, during which Naveen personally interacted with defeated Assembly candidates and discussed local organisational issues.

Addressing the gathering, Patnaik said the successful completion of the BJD’s “Nari Adhikar Abhiyan” across all 120 Assembly constituencies was an encouraging sign for the party and reflected a growing desire for change among the people. He thanked party workers and women participants for their enthusiastic involvement despite the prevailing heatwave conditions.

Patnaik criticised the BJP government in Odisha, alleging that law and order had deteriorated significantly over the past two years. He claimed that incidents of murder, rape, robbery and crimes against women had increased, while the state’s economic condition had worsened. He also alleged that social security pensions were not reaching many elderly and differently-abled beneficiaries.

Highlighting the achievements of the BJD government during its 24-year tenure, Patnaik said Odisha had earned national recognition in disaster management, food security, healthcare, education, sports, irrigation, infrastructure development and welfare programmes for farmers, women and the poor.

With Panchayat and municipal elections approaching, he urged party leaders to begin preparations with confidence and strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level, with a greater focus on social media outreach.

Referring to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Patnaik asked party leaders to remain vigilant and learn from experiences in other states. He stressed the need to ensure that no eligible voter’s name is excluded due to typographical or procedural errors.

The meeting was conducted by BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra. Assembly candidates shared feedback on local issues and organisational matters, while presentations were made on the party’s programmes, achievements of the previous BJD government and issues related to the SIR process.