• By Vivek Raj
  • Sat, 11 May 2024 05:50 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The three phases of Lok Sabha Election 2024 has been concluded, while the fourth phase is scheduled on Monday. Amid the election fever, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday issued a bold challenge to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a public meeting in Kandhamal, asking him to name all the districts of the state without written aid. The 77-year-old Naveen Patnaik is the son of veteran politician Biju Patnaik and is the longest-serving CM of Odisha. He has held the office since 2000 till date.

"I want to challenge 'Naveen Babu' as he has been the CM for such a long, ask 'Naveen Babu' to name the districts of Odisha and their respective capitals without seeing them on paper. If the CM cannot name the districts of the state, will he know your pain?" the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting a lack of trust by the state government in the people's capabilities, PM Modi advocated the need for transparency and empowerment. He criticised the incumbent administration, suggesting that such mistrust was stifling Odisha's development potential. PM Modi promised to uplift living conditions, drawing from his own humble beginnings, and rallied for support in the upcoming elections, portraying them as pivotal for Odisha's trajectory.

Addressing the crowd, PM Modi recalled historic events like the Pokhran nuclear test, highlighting India's capabilities. He contrasted this with what he characterised as fear-mongering by Congress.

"Odisha offers me immense love and support. I will repay every ounce of your trust by selflessly serving the country. 26 years ago, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji conducted the Pokhran test today. The nuclear test filled Indians all over the world with pride. That was the first time India made the world aware of its capabilities. Whereas, Congress keeps threatening its own people. They create a fear psychosis in the minds of Indians by reiterating, 'Pakistan is a nuclear power'," he said.

Odisha is set to hold Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in four phases from May 13 to June 1, with vote counting scheduled for June 4. In the 2019 elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) secured a majority of seats in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

When PM Modi asked Odisha CM “Naveen Babu to name the districts of Odisha and their respective capitals without seeing them on paper”, it sparked confused reactions on social media platform X. While it remains unclear whether PM Modi was referring to district headquarters, some users reacted by asking whether India has separate capitals for districts.