Preparations are in full swing in Odisha to welcome Home Minister Amit Shah, who will arrive in Bhubaneswar on Sunday evening. The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are decorated with posters & banners of Shah, who is visiting the state for the first time after becoming the Home Minister. Shah’s programs will begin with a visit to the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar on the last Monday of ‘Shravana’. He will then go to Cuttack to visit the birthplace of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Odia Bazaar.
He will also lead a roadshow from Odia Bazar to the Indoor Stadium to attend the 75th anniversary of Odia daily ‘Prajatantra’ founded by former Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahatab. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will also attend the newspaper’s annual program and BJD workers are also planning to give him a grand reception when he arrives in the area and set the stage for the toss. Shah will then return to Cuttack and hold a meeting of the state BJP central committee at its headquarters, they said.
He will later launch the book ‘Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery’ in Odisha on the completion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 20 years in office – since he became Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001. He will leave Odisha on Monday evening. “There is a lot of enthusiasm among party workers in the state,” state BJP president Samir Mohanty said, adding that Shah will be welcomed by party workers at various places when he travels from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack on Monday.
Several cultural troupes were hired to perform to welcome Shah, who is credited with the BJP’s growth in Odisha. Shah last visited the state during the 2019 elections when he addressed a public meeting in Bhubaneswar. The state’s ruling BJD and the opposition Congress are also closely watching Shah’s visit, which comes amid CBI and ED action in the state. The ED has so far attached the properties of three former BJD leaders in chit fund cases, while the CBI has arrested some people in connection with the Paradip Port irregularities.
Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati claimed that Shah’s visit would create a “fear psychosis” among BJD leaders. However, he said it had nothing to do with the Congress as it did not have “businessmen” as leaders. Senior BJD MLA Sasibhusan Behera said Shah’s visit would not have any impact on his party. “His visit may encourage BJP workers but it does not mean BJD will panic,” he said. With a view to 2024, when Odisha will go to the assembly polls along with the Lok Sabha, the BJP has appointed a new leader of opposition in the state, Jaynarayan Mishra, who has said his party is working for “BJD-mukt” Odisha”.
