Bhubaneswar: Electioneering for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls in Odisha will gather momentum this week with top leaders of both BJD and BJP all set hit the campaign trail.
While Union Home Minister Amit Shah will sound the poll bugle for BJP from Sonepur, a western Odisha assembly constituency under Balangir Lok Sabha seat, on April 25, BJD president and Chief Minister will begin campaigning from his home turf in Ganjam’s Hinjili, from where he is seeking re-election for the sixth term, on April 24.
According to sources, the BJD supremo will address a public rally at Sheragada and also meet party workers. He will be in Rayagada on April 25 to seek votes for BJD. He is also expected to campaign for party candidates of Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Berhampur, Koraput constituencies, which will go to polls on May 13.
Sources further said that Naveen may file his nominations for Hinji on April 30 after having a darshan of the deities at Tara Tarini.
Shah’s proposed public address would also be keenly watched since it comes a month after the collapse of tie-up talk between BJP and BJD last month. The choice of Sonepur to kick off the BJP’s campaign also assumes significance since Naveen has decided to contest from Kantabanji, another assembly segment under Balangir LS seat, apart from Hinjli.
Balangir along with Bargarh, Sundargarh, Kandhamal and Aska will go for elections on May 20.