By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: Biju Janata Dal will continue to march ahead and scripts more annals of glory for Odisha even without the leadership of any particular leader including me, said Odisha Chief Minister and Party’s Supremo Naveen Patnaik while addressing the State level function to mark the 23rd Foundation Day here. “The 4.5 crore people are BJD’s family members. The people have voted us not to power but to serve them, Patnaik said.
Naveen quoting his late legendary father Biju Patnaik and said: “Do not be loyal to me, but be loyal to the cause of Odisha’s Destiny.” Patnaik said, “True to his (Biju Babu) words, BJD has now become a ‘Movement of People’.
Naveen Patnaik’s statement assumed greater significance in the wake of speculation about of the change of guard of the Regional Party in absence of Chief Minister. Opposition Parties including BJP and Congress are seeing bad times for BJD after Naveen Patnaik.
“BJD now became a movement of 4.5 crore Odia people and it will continue to guide Odisha’s all round development without depending on any particular leader, including him,” said Patnaik amid applause from Party workers gathered at the venue. “We are not working to win elections, but to win hearts of the people through service. We have been working on all the 365 days in a year,” he said.
BJD, which was born on 26 December, 1997 after the sad demise of legendary Biju Patnaik has been successfully wining 5th terms in Odisha while Naveen Patnaim became the longest serving Chief Minister.
Prior to became the Chief Minister , Patnaik too represented Aska Lok Sabha seat in Parliament and served as an Union Cabinet Minister under late Vajpayee ji Government. This apart, BJD also continued to win a sizable number of seats in Lok Sabha elections held in last two decades.
