The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Odisha): In a sharp critique, BJD leader VK Pandian, Chairman of the 5T initiative, questioned Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s contributions to the development of Odisha during a public meeting in the Kamakhyanagar Assembly Constituency, part of the Dhenkanal Lok Sabha Constituency. Pandian challenged the purported BJP wave in Odisha and expressed confidence in BJD’s electoral success.
Pandian accused Pradhan, who is the Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, of failing to deliver tangible benefits to the region. “There has been a central minister from this place. Has he given you any updates on what he has done for you? On the other hand, our Chief Minister has been working to make Odisha the number one state in the country,” Pandian stated.
He criticized the central government’s inability to complete the Sambalpur-Cuttack National Highway, which has remained unfinished for ten years, causing numerous fatalities. Pandian also questioned the absence of educational and skill development initiatives in the region, despite Pradhan’s position as the Union education minister. “Has the central government opened any Kendriya Vidyalaya or Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, skill development centres, in your locality? Have they done anything to provide you with employment and your children with scholarships?” he asked, noting that even the school in Pradhan’s native village was transformed by the Odisha government.
Earlier, Pandian presented a comparative analysis between Gujarat and Odisha, showcasing Odisha’s superior performance on various development indicators. The BJD pointed out the irony of Gujarat’s dismal situation despite over two decades of BJP rule, compared to Odisha’s progress.
The Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Odisha are being conducted simultaneously. The four-phased elections began on May 13, with subsequent phases on May 20, May 25, and June 1.
