Josh is high, will get three-fourth majority, says BJD’s VK Pandian

I am very clear and focused that I am here to work for NP and get him the 6th term: Pandian

Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader VK Pandian is confident of his party retaining Odisha, where polling for the 147-member assembly opened on May 13, with a record-breaking three-fourth majority.

Josh is very high, Pandian said in an exclusive interview to News 18. "We will breach all records this time," Pandian, who is a close aide of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, said.

The BJP has stepped up its campaign in Odisha, where elections assembly elections are being held along with the Lok Sabha polls and is confident of forming government on its own after alliance talks between the two sides failed.

"I am very clear and focused that I am here to work for Naveen Patnaik and get him the sixth term. India will see a record in the form of Patnaik and I want to be a small part of history in the making," the 49-year-old former IAS officer said.

On May 13, along with four Lok Sabha seats, voting was also held for 28 assembly segments in Odisha. The remaining assembly seats will be voted for in phases on May 20, May 25 and June 1.

Pandain spoke on a range of issues. Here are the highlights:

"No political party in the history has won 30/30 what is Jay Panda talking about… he is losing with a huge margin from Kendrapara. His brand of politics of spreading lies and rumours about the CM’s health or AI deep fake videos will not work with the people of Odisha," said Pandian. He was responding to BJP leader Bijayant Jay Panda's claim that Patnaik was unwell and was losing control of the party.

"These will hurt the people of Odisha. He is power hungry. He can only create rumours about the CM’s health. Jay is spreading lies and misinformation," Pandain said of the former party colleague.

The opposition can only spread rumours or questions the development work done in the state because it doesn’t have issues to talk about or, Pandian said.

Pandian a came down hard on union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur.

"Dharmendra Pradhan should check facts with his bosses when he says that the BJD came to the BJP to form the government.

“Pradhan tried his luck for 10 years in one constituency and after 10 years of working very hard as a cabinet minister he shifted his constituency. He is one politician in the entire nation who before filing nomination has faced anti-incumbency. He is making a joke of himself."

"Our CM’s brand of politics is very different. We did not support the Centre on important issues like National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the farmer’s bill. Our CM is very clear about what issues to support and which ones not to support,"

Also read: Where is Naveen Patnaik? Seen only in videos, says Dharmendra Pradhan

Pandian said the Odisha government had implemented several Centre-run schemes.

"There are end number of central schemes pension, irrigation, etc but we felt that BSKY is a far better scheme than Ayushman Bharat. We are spending 300 crore for the people monthly as against 300 crore share that will come for Odisha annually. Where is the comparison?" he said.

The Biju Swastya Kalyan Yojana is a universal health coverage scheme launched by the Odisha government.

"Gujarat is no model state even after 25 years. NFHS report on anaemia states Odisha is far better than Gujarat and the national average. Women have more bank accounts here than Gujarat, per capita debt is also far better than Gujarat," Pandian said.

Also read: No light for Congress at end of the tunnel in Odisha?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president JP Nadda launched the BJP’s campaign with an emphasis on Odia Asmita (pride).

"It is the biggest joke being played on Odisha, BJP diverts attention based on religion and playing sentiments. What has BJP done for Odia Asmita? What have they done for Odia which is a classical language? Where is the Bharat Ratna for the tallest leader of the state Biju Patnaik?" said Pandian, who has often being tagged an “outsider” by rivals.

"Distress migration used to happen in the state but now it’s optional migration happening in the state. Odisha has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Everything is authenticated by facts," he said.