BJD to go in 'political Nabakalebara' in Odisha: Oram

Union Minister Jual Oram today claimed there would be a "political Nabakalebara" in Odisha, as the people have decided to bring the BJP to power in the state after the BJD government's "misrule" of 17 years.
'Nabakalebara' festival marks replacement of the old wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with newly-made wooden statues.
"Political Nabakalebara is certainly going to take place in Odisha. People of the state have made up their mind to give BJP an opportunity to form government in the state," Oram told reporters during a visit here.
Stating that the scenario in Odisha is fast changing, the Union Tribal Affairs Minister said, "The political equation in the state would undergo a change soon because of misrule and inefficiency of the BJD for the last 17 years."

The BJP leader alleged that there was rampant corruption in all spheres in the state where percentage commission had become an accepted norm for every work.
Therefore, people eagerly want to bring about a political change by ousting the BJD from power, he said.

Another BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar also lashed out at the BJD regime in Odisha for letting development come to a "grinding halt" in the state.
Javadekar met party leaders and visited slum areas in the city on the second day of his three-day visit here.
"BJP workers and leaders must expose the BJD government by telling people about its failure on all fronts. People still remain poor and the state suffers from backwardness due to BJD's misrule and inefficiency.

"Development has come to a grinding halt during 17 years of BJD rule in Odisha," he said.
The HRD minister said BJP workers and leaders should highlight different welfare and pro-poor programs launched by the NDA government at the Centre.
The BJP's organisational strength, Javadekar said, has increased substantially in the state, and the party workers must capitalise on the growing popularity of BJP and shape it for the 2019 elections.
Reacting to Oram's remarks, senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member P K Deb said the Union minister's statement was a sign of arrogance.
Oram should first tell the people about the performance and track record of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre during the past three years, he said.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also made a statement recently that the people of Odisha have decided to dethrone the Naveen Patnaik government.