Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday claimed that BJD will do good in the elections and also win the Patkura Assembly election in Kendrapara district.
“BJD will do good in the elections and also win the Patkura Assembly election. I urge the CEC to postpone the Patkura elections in view of the cyclone and he assured to look into the matter seriously,” said Patnaik after meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora in New Delhi.
Patnaik met the CEC requesting to postpone the Patkura Assembly poll in view of the cyclonic storm Fani which is expected to hit Odisha coast on May 3.
“Odisha is facing the threat of extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani. As per latest predictions, the cyclone is expected to make landfall in Kendrapara district with a wind speed of 200 kms per hour with gusting wind speed of 220 kms per hour and with a very high storm surge,” said Patnaik in the memorandum submitted to the CEC.
Patnaik also requested CEC Arora to withdraw the model code of conduct with regard to disaster management for all coastal districts of the State for effective management of the relief and rescue operations. Four-phase simultaneous polls have already ended in the State on April 29.
“The Chief Election Commissioner assured to look into the matter seriously,” said Patnaik.
Election in Patkura, which was earlier scheduled to be held on April 29, was adjourned following the death of the 82-year-old Bed Prakash, a six-time MLA, on April 20. Later, the Election Commission of India (ECI) fixed May 19 for polling, the last phase of the seven-phase elections in the country.
BJP has fielded veteran leader Bijoy Mohapatra from Patkura Assembly seat. The BJP veteran is hoping for a return in his home turf Patkura, after a gap of almost two decades.
All the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 146 out of 147 Assembly constituencies had gone to polls on April 11, 18, 23 and 29.
