Srikant Jena challenges BJP, BJD leaders to public debate in Odisha

Speaking to reporters here, Jena accused both the parties of neglecting Balasore. He criticized the BJD government and said employment generation, better irrigation, farming, industrial development and railway connectivity were needed to boost the development of the district.

“Flood control measures, establishment of a marine drive from Chandipur to Udaipur-Talasari and implementation of Subarnarekha Sanskar Yojana are long-standing demands,” he said, lamenting the failure of successive BJP and BJD governments to fulfill these demands. .

Accusing the BJD and BJP of neglecting the development of Balasore, Jena said, “I challenge the leaders of both the parties to face me in a public debate about the progress made during my tenure in 2014. This is unfortunate. That there is a lack of response from the BJP and the BJD, which leaves the responsibility of holding the leaders accountable to the people of Balasore,” he asserted.

In the upcoming elections, Jena will face BJP’s Pratap Sarangi and BJD’s Lekhashree Samantasinghar. Samantasinghar, who recently joined BJD from BJP, has been nominated by the ruling party to contest from Balasore Lok Sabha seat, while former Union Minister Pratap Sarangi wants to contest again.

During his tenure as MP, Jena said he developed infrastructure such as auditoriums, established the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET) and brought improvements in road, bridge, irrigation and railway connectivity. He accused the BJD government of failing to attract industries to Balasore, which has increased the job crisis in Odisha.

The veteran Congress leader urged voters to keep in mind the development record of both the BJP-led central government and the BJD-led state government before casting their votes in the upcoming elections. He reiterated his commitment towards the people of Balasore.