BJP national president Amit Shah is likely to visit Odisha twice over the next two weeks to address a rally and attend a tribal leaders’ meet, sources in the saffron party said on Wednesday, reported PTI.
State BJP functionary further said that Shah scheduled visit to the state on January 18 was cancelled in view of his illness. As per the new plan, Amit Shah is set to visit Cuttack on January 29 to address a public meeting, party’s general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said.
The dates had to be rescheduled as he was unwell, he said, adding that the visit would strengthen the morale of party workers.
BJP MLA Rabi Nayak said Shah will also address the party’s tribal front meeting at Puri on February 3, they said.
“Our party president will visit Puri on February 3, the second day of the two-day tribal front meet. Over 5,000 representatives of tribal communities, along with MLAs and MPs from across the country, will join the national convention,” Nayak said.
The convention will discuss the rights of tribal people and the welfare programmes launched for them by the Narendra Modi-led government, he said.
“During the two-day meet, the leaders will also raise awareness about the ‘anti-tribal’ policy of the BJD government in Odisha,” Nayak added.
Prior to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this during his visit to Odisha unveiled developmental projects worth over ₹1550 crore. During his visit to the state, PM Narendra Modi also laid the foundation stone for the permanent building of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sonepur, to be constructed at a cost of ₹15.81 crores. PM Modi during his visit also inaugurated 6 Passport Sewa Kendras at Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Phulbani, Bargarh, and Balangir.
Earlier, The prime minister had visited Odisha on December 24 and addressed a public meeting at Khurda apart from launching a number of projects, including a new campus of IIT Bhubaneswar and foundation stone of IISER Berhampur.
The back to back visits of the prime minister and now BJP National President Amit Shah is seen as BJP‘s efforts to strengthen the organizational structure of the party in the state in a run-up to the 2019 general elections. The state assembly polls are slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led Biju Janta Dal (BJD) government will seek the fifth term in the state.