In Odisha, heavyweight leaders of major political parties are on the campaign trail, seeking votes for their party nominees for the fifth phase of elections, scheduled to be held on the 20th of this month. Bargarh, Sundergarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal and Aska parliamentary constituencies and 35 Assembly seats under their purview are going for simultaneous polls in this phase. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah addressed a public meeting at Rourkela under Sundergarh parliamentary constituency and sought votes for party candidate incumbent MP and former Union Minister Jual Oram. Mr Shah predicted a significant victory for BJP in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha. He said, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnik cann’t ensure development of the state. BJP leader and Bollywood star Hema Malini also campaigned for the party and held roadshows at Cuttack under Cuttack parliamentary constituency, Pipili under Puri parliamentary constituency besides addressing a public meeting at Bhubaneswar.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed a public gathering at Kabisuryanagar under Aska parliamentary constituency and requested voters to vote for BJP.

BJD Chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is also on a marathon election tour to the western parts of the state. He held four public meetings at PHD Ground under Sambalpur parliamentary constituency, Naktideula in Bargarh parliamentary constituency, Angul town and Dhenkanal town under Dhenkanal parliamentary constituency. He criticised the opposition parties for propagating false information against his government and said, if voted back to power for sixth consecutive terms, the BJD government will give free electricity to the people.