Naveen campaigns for BJD in BMC polls

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today hit the campaign trail in support of the Biju Janata Dal candidates in the January 8 polls to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Patnaik started his campaign for BJD candidates in the BMC polls from ward number 10 and covered at least four more wards before the sun set.
"I appeal all the voters to bless the BJD candidates in the BMC elections," Patnaik said at all the places while wooing the people for supporting the ruling party in the past.
Accompanied my senior party leaders, ministers, MLAs, MPs and party candidates, Patnaik at some places halted to mingle with people and sought their "blessings."

However, the police detained a Congress candidate and prevented him from campaigning in his ward apprehending 'trouble'.
Suryamani Rout, the Congress candidate from Ward No 5, was detained at 11 am while on his way to the Chakeisiani area in the city to campaign. The Commissionerate police, however, attributed the police action as a follow up on an 'intelligence

input'. The police had input that the Congress candidate might create trouble during the Chief Minister's meeting, a senior police officer said.
Hundreds of Rout's supporters gheraoed Mancheswar police station and demanded immediate release of their leader. "It was a conspiracy to malign me before the voters," Rout alleged.

Rout is contesting elections against BJD's Nirmal Rout, Santosh Mohanty of BJP and two independents - Anup Khuntia and Babuli Behera - in Ward No 5.
Meanwhile, the lone trans-gender candidate in the BMC elections Menaka alias Prasant Parida, who is contesting from ward number 15, in an FIR at Nayapalli Police Station alleged that the BJD supporters abused her in filthy language besides burning and tearing down her posters, banners and other campaigning materials.
"I feel danger on my life as they have issued threat to beat me up," Menaka in her FIR said seeking police protection.
The opposition Congress and BJP also stepped up their campaign in the BMC area. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jaydev Jena, senior BJP leader and former minister B B Harichandan and others also campaigned for their respective party candidates.