Biju Janta Dal (BJD) Leader and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday keep up the suspense over joining forces with ‘Grand Alliance’ in the run-up to the Lok Sabha 2019 Polls. Patnaik on Tuesday in New Delhi said he wanted more time to decide on joining ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
“As far as Mahagathbandhan is concerned, we will take some time and think it over,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
Naveen Patnaik was in National Capital on Tuesday as a part of its party’s protest call to gherao Parliament seeking proper MSP on Paddy.
While addressing farmers as a part of its protest call, Patnaik racked up Narendra Modi led government for failing to fulfil his pre-poll promises of 2014. The Centre cannot run away from providing (adequate) MSP as it is its responsibility. It has not responded to our demands despite several reminders,” he said.
Odisha CM said his government has approved ‘Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation’ (KALIA) scheme amounting to over Rs 10,000 crore covering 92 percent of Cultivators. He added that his government will spend an amount of Rs 10,000 per family at the rate of Rs 5,000 each for Kharif and Rabi seasons which will be provided as financial assistance for taking up cultivation. This assistance is for five cropping seasons spanning three years from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Odisha Cabinet approves ₹10,000 crore financial aid to farmers.
The Odisha government had spent about Rs. 30,000 crore on agriculture in the past four and a half years and had earmarked Rs. 10,000 crore for the KALIA scheme to spend in three years, Naveen Patnaik added.
Earlier on December 23, Odisha CM met his Telangana Counterpart N Chandrashekhar Rao in Bhubneshwar, who is on a mission to forge a third without BJP and Congress in the run-up to the Lok Sabha Polls 2019. KCR to reach out Mamata, Patnaik, exploring Possibilities of Federal Front
Odisha CM Patnaik after his meeting with KCR said, “We discussed several things including friendship of like-minded parties. We’ve not thought that (Parliament elections) far.
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