We Will Secure All 21 Lok Sabha Seats: Dharmendra Pradhan
By Nalini Sahu
1) Question: If BJP wins majority in Odisha, how and who can be the face of CM?
Answer: Look, this time BJP is certainly going to form the government in Odisha. However, as a national party, the Bharatiya Janata Party makes all decisions through its parliamentary committees. The party never announces its chief ministerial candidate before the elections. After the election results are announced, the parliamentary committee convenes to decide on the chief minister. The Ho’ble Prime Minister has stated that the BJP will select its chief ministerial candidate on 6th of June, and the chosen individual will be an Orthodox Odia.
2) While the major poll plank of BJP is Odia Asmita, the Chief Minister is accusing the opposition of obstructing development in Odisha. Your take ?
The chief minister himself in the past has praised the central govt and its constructive support to Odisha. The union govt has provided over assistance in various forms of over 18 lakh crores during the last 10 years of NDA govt while Odisha received around 3 Lakh Crores during the previous 10 years of UPA govt – a 6 times increase. The numbers are here for you and your readers to see if the NDA govt has been supportive of Odisha and its people’s ambitions. How did we obstruct them ?
Odia Asmita is an issue that concerns me deeply. The state is deprioritizing local capacity building by contracting all kinds of work outside the state thereby denying our people both employment and capacity development opportunity. Are we saying that the masons of Odisha can’t build a bus stand so that we have to get someone from outside of the state to do it ? The state is renovating temples, but the spirit of our rich history and culture are collateral damages.
3) How do you rate your opponents especially the BJD candidate who is one of your bitter critique and asking about your contribution for Odisha.
Sambalpur BJD candidate Mr Das holds senior most positions within the BJD party. I rather find it amusing that Mr Das, the general secretary of BJD that has ruled continuously for the last 24 years has little to speak about what they have done for Sambalpur and chooses to speak about his political opponent’s contribution.
His criticism has rather been on flimsy grounds while I have been categorical about issues of water, forced labor migration, lack of doctors and teachers.
4) CM Naveen Patnaik has been saying BJP leaders are shedding crocodile tears on Odisha’s problems?
Ans: These are allegations to hide their incompetence. Naveen babu and his crew are not ready to face the truth. They are not in a position to answer the people what they have done in past 25 years.
5) Question: What are the plans to bring changes in the state when the double engine Government comes?
Answer: As outlined in our manifesto, we will provide farmers with a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 3100 per quintal. Under the Subhadra Yojana, women will receive Rs. 50,000 in cash vouchers. We will implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in state and aim to make 25 lakh Mission Shakti Didi millionaires. Additionally, the beneficiary allowance will be increased to Rs. 3000. We will also make public the list of properties in the Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar.
6) Question: How many seats do you think the BJP will win from the assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha?
Answer: We will win 21 to 21 seats in Lok Sabha. This time we will form the government in the Legislative Assembly.
7) What would be your dream for Sambalpur, if you were elected.
Answer: My foremost dreams are two for Sambalpur. One is to create jobs locally to arrest and reverse the forced migration from this part of the state. I dream of creating a textile hub here since the western Odisha belt has a lot of artisans in the apparel sector. Second – I dream to convert Sambalpur to the Varanasi of East with Maa Samlei at the centre of it – not just a spiritual town but an international grade tourist destination for people to immerse in both spirituality, Sambalpuri folk art and the artisanal collections from here – creating further income opportunities for local. I dream of a Sambalpur in 10 years that is a model to replicate – financially super strong and spiritual centre. I don’t think we need to adopt development models of the west where prosperity comes at the cost of peace. I want to see a peaceful yet prosperous Sambalpur.
