BJP ready for local polls: Purandeswari

Bhubaneswar: The BJP national vice-president and Odisha in-charge D Purandeswari on Saturday expressed confidence that the party would perform better in the upcoming panchayat and urban local body elections, stressing the need for coordination between the organisation and the state government.

Purandeswari, who arrived in the state along with the party’s co-in-charge Swadesh Singh, said the BJP was ready for the polls and would seek to strengthen its grassroots organisation. “All are ready for the polls. With the blessings of the people and cooperation among the party leaders, the BJP will certainly perform better in the elections,” she said. The two leaders were accorded a welcome upon their arrival at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here. Purandeswari, who has taken charge as the Odisha in-charge for the second time, said her primary focus would be to ensure seamless coordination between the government and the organisation. She said party workers and leaders should work to further strengthen the BJP’s grassroots base.

The two leaders later attended a meeting chaired by state BJP president Manmohan Samal at the party’s state headquarters. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, district presidents, leaders of frontal organisations and other office-bearers were also present.

The BJD presently holds more than 80 per cent of the seats in the zilla parishads and urban local bodies in the state. Purandeswari subsequently attended the ‘Angan Ki Utsav’ programme organised at an anganwadi centre in the city under the party’s ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’.

Briefing reporters about the meeting, state BJP general secretary Biranchi Narayan Tripathy said discussions focused on the party’s organisational activities, future action plans and preparations for the panchayat and municipal elections slated for early next year. “Furthermore, a review was conducted of the various service-oriented programmes held under the month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, which began on September 17, the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and detailed discussions were held on ensuring the success of other scheduled programmes continuing until October 17,” Tripathy said.

He said a nationwide ‘Seva Jyoti’ programme would be organised on October 7 to mark Modi completing 25 years in public office, including his tenure as Gujarat chief minister and as prime minister. The programme would be held across all 30 districts of the state, Tripathy said, adding that a detailed plan was formulated at Saturday’s meeting to mark the occasion.

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The Hans India