New Delhi: Hit by BJP’s impressive performance in local bodies election, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, for the first time, will be embarking on a statewide visit to meet party leaders, including panchayat pramukhs, district wise, which the state’s Opposition party described as a “NaMo effect”.
BJP alleges that ruling BJD has “reached a saturation point” as its organisational structure has become “stagnant”. Reports are pouring in that a large chunk of ruling party’s cadre and workers are willing to switch sides to the BJP, which is keeping a watchful eye on developments in the BJD camp, especially after buzz that Patnaik’s US based sister Geeta Mehta is camping in the state to “learn about the state politics”.
The local bodies poll results forced Patnaik to issue a diktat to party leaders, especially MLAs, to “start meeting the people”. Amid rumours over his health, the BJD supremo himself has started meeting party leaders as well as getting in touch with the cadre and visiting the party office.
After BJP’s impressive performance in the local bodies polls, party leadership decided to hold its next national executive meeting in the state capital.
