BJD might draw up rural poll blueprint at July 10 meet

Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD is all set to chalk out its strategy at the party's state executive meeting here on July 10 keeping in mind the panchayat polls in February next year. The ruling government has figured a barrage of issues including politically-significant ones like dispute with Chhattisgarh government over Mahanadi water, fight against the Centre to increase the minimum support price of paddy, rise in price of petroleum products and Polavaram during the day-long programme.BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik would preside over the meeting. Around 300 leaders, including 81 executive members, 147 state council members, all MLAs, MPs, party candidates defeated in 2014 assembly and presidents of 32 organizational districts were invited to attend the one-day event where organizational matters will be discussed, said BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb.
According to party insiders, the meeting is scheduled to refurbish the party's image which faces public criticism in the backdrop of a barrage of issues, including ruling party link of tainted doctor Motilal Gauda, Tatwa Prakash Satpathy aka Papu Pom Pom, attack by party workers on the cavalcade of Union ministers at Bargarh.
Also, the party would ask its leaders to pull up their socks for the ensuing panchayat polls. "The recent drubbing of the party in Cuttack and Buguda civic polls has been taken seriously by the party leadership. Though it would not have any severe impact on the party organization, it sent a wrong signal," said a senior leader, adding, infighting within the ruling party would be one of the key issues.