Kataka: Attending the second day of the BJP Odisha unit’s extended State Executive Committee meeting in Kataka, the party’s national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh on Sunday urged party workers to work hard and remain closely connected with people ahead of the upcoming panchayat, municipal and cooperative elections.

Santosh further stated in the meeting chaired by state president Manmohan Samal that the BJP’s primary objective is to reach people at the bottom of the social pyramid and ensure that they have access to services, facilities and basic rights.

Referring to Odisha, Santosh said since the BJP formed the government in the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his government have been regularly listening to people’s grievances and standing by them in their times of happiness and distress.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also addressed the meeting, spoke about various welfare schemes of the state government and their implementation.

The extended State Executive Committee meeting also passed a political resolution strongly criticising the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on several issues.

Targeting the BJD, the BJP alleged the previous state government had deliberately removed or misplaced the inquiry commission file related to the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. The party termed the alleged disappearance of the commission records in the sensitive case a matter of serious concern.

The BJP also accused the Congress in Odisha of functioning as the “B-team” of the BJD and alleged the party was acting according to the latter’s directions.

The party further criticised both the Congress and BJD for opposing amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, alleging the two parties were creating confusion by presenting misleading information.

The political resolution also criticised the BJD over its response to the recent floods in Odisha. The BJP claimed that nine districts were affected by extensive flooding this year and alleged “petty politics” and insensitive remarks by BJD leaders had caused distress among flood-affected people.

After the meeting, BJP MP Sambit Patra told reporters the conduct of both the Congress and BJD in the prevailing political situation in Odisha and the country was “unfortunate”.

BJP state vice-president Jatin Mohanty and cell coordinator Sudipta Ray were also present at the press conference.

National general secretary Sunil Bansal, Odisha Deputy Chief Ministers K.V. Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, state in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, co-in-charge Lata Usendi, state general secretary (organisation) Manas Kumar Mohanty, ministers, MPs, MLAs, state office-bearers and members of the State Executive Committee also attended the meeting.