Odisha: Smriti Irani, Naveen Patnaik campaign for BJP, BJD respectively; shoe hurled at Odisha CM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday hit the campaign trail in Bijepur Assembly constituency to canvass for the candidates of their respective parties and wooed farmers, and weavers, who comprise over 50 % of electorate.

It was a show of strength by the ruling BJD and the opposition BJP as both the parties roped in star campaigners to woo voters ahead of the Bijepur Assembly by-poll slated to be held on Sunday.

Patnaik, who is also the BJD president, and Irani, a senior BJP leader, addressed more than two public meetings besides holding roadshows in separate areas, as the electorate of the Assembly constituency witnessed trading of charges between the BJD and the BJP.

In his address at Badagaon village of Barpali block, Patnaik highlighted the activities undertaken by the Odisha government for the development of farmers and weavers and hit out at the Centre for imposing GST.

''The weavers here have made Odisha proud. Unfortunately the Centre imposed 18 % GST on handloom products. However, after Odisha's demand the GST was reduced to 5 %. We are demanding a complete waiver," he said.

The chief minister said the BJD government had implemented Gangadhar Meher lift irrigation project to address the problems of farmers in Bijepur. The project will irrigate 32,000 hectares -- 19,000 hectare at Bijepur, 8,000 at Sohela and 5,000 at Barpali.

Touched by the love and affection of people of Kumbhari village, who fondly remember Biju Babu. I cherish the moments spent with them this evening. Their faith and respect has humbled me and is inspiring us to work harder. #JaiJagannath pic.twitter.com/dadLXwrIAd

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 20, 2018

To woo the women voters, he spoke of his choice, Rita Sahu -- the widow of former MLA Subal Sahu -- as the party's candidate for the bypoll.

Patnaik, who will spend the night in Bargarh district, also took part in a 6-km long road show from Barpali to Kumbhari village.

Hours after Patnaik's meeting at Barpali, Irani, the Union Minister for Textiles and Information and Broadcasting addressed her second public meeting at Bijepur and countered the chief minister's charges.

Earlier, Irani had addressed a meeting at Gaisilat where she talked of the benefit of the Centre's Ujjwala Yojana to women.

Joined @BJP4Odisha election campaign for Bijepur assembly constituency with @dpradhanbjp ji. pic.twitter.com/1K0suEoRD3

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) February 20, 2018

Seeking votes for BJP candidate Ashok Panigrahi, she said the Centre has also made schemes to provide safe drinking water for all which will mitigate the hardships faced by women.

''Development has gone for 'vanvas' since 18 years under Naveen babu's rule. Now, you have to decide the fate of BJD government,'' Irani said.

''Though he (Patnaik) claims to be worried for the weavers community, he has never written a letter to the textile ministry nor spoken to me over phone on the problems faced by Odisha weavers,'' she said.

Alleging that Patnaik has been misleading people in order to garner votes for his party candidate, Irani said, ''Patnaik has been misleading people as GST is not applicable on handloom products below Rs 20 lakh turnover. How can it affect the weavers earning Rs 5,000 or Rs 6,000 per month ?''

Highlighting the Centre's Jan Dhan Yojana, She said, ''Goddess Laxmi doesn't come walking with Naveen babu, but sits atop the 'lotus' and ushers in prosperity.''

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who shared the stage with her, claimed that though the state government has announced a Rs 1250 crore irrigation scheme for the farmers of Bijepur it has not made allocation of even Rs 1,250 for it in the state budget.

''The irrigation project announcement was made to mislead people to get their votes," Pradhan said.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram accused the BJD government of not bringing development in Bijepur and across the state.

Congress candidate Pranaya Sahu, who has been campaigning with the local Congress leaders, claimed, ''The people of Bijepur have decided to vote for Congress as they see flow of black money both by BJD and BJP.'

The Congress has been holding the seat since 2004.

The bypoll in Bijepur Assembly segment was necessitated due to the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu in August last year. The constituency has 2.21 lakh voters.

Shoe hurled at Odisha CM

A man hurled a pair of shoes at Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik when he was addressing an election meeting in Bargarh district today, police said.

The chief minister escaped unhurt but the footwear hit his personal security officer.

#WATCH Shoes thrown towards Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in Bargarh, the culprit was later thrashed and received injuries pic.twitter.com/6UNEkHmJKJ

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

The attacker was swiftly taken into custody by the security personnel, while the chief minister was escorted to safety.

The incident took place at Khumbhari village in Bijepur Assembly constituency when Patnaik was addressing a meeting following a road show in Barpali.

The man has been detained at the local police station and is being questioned, police said.

The bypoll for Bijepur seat is scheduled for February 24.

Leaders of both the ruling BJD, and opposition BJP and Congress condemned the incident.

"It is an unfortunate incident. It appears to be sponsored as the BJP is losing the election in Bijepur," BJD vice president and Odisha minister S N Patro told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

"We strongly condemn it. There is no place for violence in democracy," BJP spokesman Sajan Sharma said.

Congress spokesman Debasish Patnaik said the episode has set a bad trend in Odisha.

The incident comes three weeks after a woman hurled eggs at Patnaik while he was addressing a gathering during the Talasari beach festival in Balasore district on January 31.

The woman was arrested and sent to jail, but the police later withdrew the case against her at Patnaik's insistence.