Naveen counters Sonia, Modi rhetoric

BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: A day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP's prime minister hopeful Narendra Modi accused Naveen Patnaik-led government of failing to provide good governance in Odisha, Naveen hit back on Saturday and said both the opposition parties failed to alleviate poverty in states, ruled by them.
Taking potshots at BJP, Naveen said the BJP-ruled states still reel under poverty."Rights of poor people are being stifled and rich get priority," said Naveen, while addressing rallies in Angul and Dhenkanal districts on Saturday.
"BJP makes tall claims about the development in Gujarat. But there is nobody in the state to listen to the cries of the poor in the state. They should come to Odisha and learn how to eradicate poverty," Naveen said.
Naveen accused Congress at the Centre of being apathetic towards the state's legitimate demands, including special category status and enhancement of mineral royalty.
In Cuttack, Naveen Patnaik exuded confidence that his party will come to power for the fourth consecutive time in Odisha. "I am confident that people will elect BJD to power again. We will do really well in both assembly and Lok Sabha elections," Patnaik told the media during marathon campaigning here.
While answering a query whether his party will opt for any alliance with the national parties, Naveen replied "My party will remain equidistant from both Congress and BJP". After landing at Satyabrata stadium from his chopper at 5.15 pm, the chief minister carried out his roadshows across the city. He started the campaigning from Tulasipur and then went to Bidanasi, CDA and went on a whirlwind tour of the city.
He campaigned for Debashish Samantray, Pravat Biswal and Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJD's candidates for Cuttack-Barabati, Cuttack-Choudwar assembly constituencies and Cuttack Lok Sabha seat respectively. The huge cavalcade of chief minister passed through the narrow lanes and bylanes, boosting the confidence of party candidates. "He is our star campaigner and after his campaigning we have nothing to worry about. I am confident that BJD will perform much better than 2009 polls in Cuttack," said Debashish, who is the sitting MLA of Cuttack-Barabati. However, during campaigning police had a tough time managing traffic.
With just two days left for campaigning to end for April 17 polls, the candidates in the poll fray have intensified it. So far no national or state-level leaders of BJP and Congress have come to the city to canvass for party candidates.