Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi is on a marathon election tour to Odisha today. Addressing a public meeting at Balangir, Mr Modi criticised Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik for not developing mineral-rich Odisha and keeping the people poor during his almost 25-year rule. He said, youths are migrating to far-off States like Gujarat to earn their livelihood, while farmers are not getting the right price for their paddy and other agricultural products.

Mr Modi said, the BJD supremo is not connected to common men and does not understand the pains of Odia people. He challenged Mr Patnaik to name 10 villages in Kantabanji assembly constituency from where the Odisha Chief Minister is contesting this election.

Mr Modi also said that the countdown of Naveen Patnaik’s government has begun and BJP is going to form the next government in Odisha after the assembly polls. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed a public meeting at Phulbani in Kandhamal district and he is scheduled to address another election rally in Bargarh parliamentary constituency. Last night, Mr. Modi did a mega roadshow at Bhubaneswar to boost the election prospects of the BJP in Odisha.