"PM Modi determined for the development of Odisha," says Dharmendra Pradhan

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 25 : Comparing the treatment and financial assistance provided to Odisha by the Congress rule at teh Centre and the Modi government, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted on Monday that the Congress government, during its tenure from 2004 to 2014, allocated merely 3 lakh crores for Odisha, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated Rs. 18 lakh crores to the state, underscoring Modi's unwavering commitment to Odisha's development.
The Bharatiya Janata Party called off its alliance with Biju Janta Dal (BJD) in Odisha ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the party's state president Manmohan Samal said on Friday.
BJP will fight all 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha alone.
"It shows how determined PM Modi is for the development of Odisha," he added.
Highlighting the multitude of central schemes benefiting Odisha's citizens, including provisions such as 5 kg of grains per person per month for 3 crore 25 lakh people, universal vaccination coverage, and enhancements in the loan mechanism, he said,"Many central schemes are benefiting the citizens of Odisha. 5 kg of grains per person per month is given to 3 crore 25 lakh people in the state. Everyone got vaccinated. The loan mechanism has become much better. Youth and the poor are with PM Modi."
He pointed out the challenges facing Odisha, such as malnutrition, inadequate healthcare facilities, electricity shortages and severe water scarcity in rural areas.
"We are still dealing with malnutrition and poor medical facilities. The coal from Odisha helps in electricity generation, but Odisha has an electricity shortage. The villages in Odisha have a serious water shortage,' he said.
Further lashing out at the previous Congress government, he said, "Was it a government or a way to loot people in previous years? A double-engine government is a guarantee of development."
Appreciating PM Modi, he said that the state of Odisha is a laboratory of the PM's governance. "This time, the result of this lab will be good. The whole strength of the party, workers, and supporters has been put together for a change in the government of this state."
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as the candidate from the Sambalpur constituency in Odisha.
This announcement was part of the party's fifth list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, which comprise 21 constituencies, are set to take place in four phases. The voting dates have been scheduled for May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) emerged as the dominant party, securing 20 out of the 21 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a single seat.
However, the 2019 elections saw a shift in the political landscape. The BJD's seat count was reduced to 12, while the BJP made significant gains, winning 8 seats. This change marked a notable increase in the BJP's presence in the state. The Indian National Congress (INC) also managed to secure a seat in the 2019 elections.