Patnaik wants to purchase votes in Bijepur bypoll: Pradhan

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik forcibly wants to purchase polls in Bijepur bypoll.

While addressing a gathering, Pradhan said the Chief Minister does not want to develop Bijepur on the ground level but wants to purchase votes forcibly.

He alleged that the Chief Minister did not provide basic amenities in villages during his 18-year-rule.

"In 18 years, Naveen babu failed to provide basic amenities such as drinking water, healthcare, electricity, education to villagers. How is it possible to provide all these livelihood things in remaining 14 months of his rule?" Pradhan questioned.

The Union Minister said Patnaik will not be able to implement the schemes that he is announcing for Bijepur.

"Naveen babu does not want to develop Bijepur on the ground level. Odisha Government has announced nothing in budget session for Bijepur. But, the Chief Minister is announcing several schemes to brainwash people of Bijepur," Pradhan said.

He was accompanied by Veteran Ollywood actress Aparajita Mohanty, who joined the BJP on Monday in presence of Pradhan and other senior leaders at party's State headquarters in Bhubaneswar.

Aparajita had unsuccessfully contested election on Congress ticket from Cuttack Parliamentary constituency in 2014.

Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress and BJP have started campaigning with their star campaigners.

BJP's star campaigner Union minister Smriti Zubin Irani is scheduled to campaign on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Patnaik will also hit the campaign trail on Tuesday and Wednesday. Naveen will devote Tuesday to Barpali block while on Wednesday, he will campaign in Bijepur and Gaisilat blocks.

Voting will be done for Bijepur assembly seat on February 24 and the results will be declared on February 28.