BJD and BJP take on each other, one slogan at a time

BHUBANESWAR: To its nationwide campaign of ‘Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar (Modi govt once again),’ the BJP in Odisha has added ‘Rajya Sarkar Badaliba Darkar (state government must change)’ to achieve the “double engine” ambition of the Modi government at the Centre and a new BJP regime in Odisha.

The BJD is countering the BJP with “Naveen mo Parivaar, Sankha mo Chinna (Naveen is my family, conch is my symbol)” and “Ghare Ghare Sankha (Conch in each household)” campaigns as the 147-member Odisha assembly goes to polls simultaneously with Lok Sabha in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29.

From radio to social media and outdoors, and in netas’ speech, the two parties’ twin campaigns are all out there as the poll dates near. Many BJP leaders are using the hashtag #RajyaSarkarBadalibaDarkar in their social media posts. This apart, the party has a series of audio-visuals with this catch-line highlighting Naveen’s “failures” in past 19 years.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Jeypore on Thursday, senior leader and Kendrapada Lok Sabha candidate Baijayant Panda made people chant “RajyaSarkarBadalibaDarkar”. The prime minister asked people to have “double engine” to ensure Odisha’s faster development by voting for BJP in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

The twin BJP campaigns carry arch opposite meanings. While “Phir Ek Baar” is seeking return of the incumbent government at the Centre the other is seeking to throw out the incumbent in the state. “Both the campaigns have evoked warm response from people, which shows people are fed up with the incumbent government in the state. At the same time, they are comparing Modi’s five years with decades of past governments at the Centre,” said state BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty.

While the BJP sense perceived anti-incumbency against Naveen, the regional party in its ‘Naveen mo Parivaar…’ has been articulating that the BJD will return to power once again this time. Through its publicity material, the party has been highlighting Naveen’s articulation during a recent rally that BJD will win in all 21 LS seats from Odisha and will play an important role in the formation of the government at the Centre.

The ‘Naveen mo Parivaar…’ campaign highlights Naveen’s Kalia cash assistance scheme for farmers, state’s Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana instead of Ayushman Bharat. “Ghare Ghare Sankha is a people’s movement for a people’s government, led by the people’s chief minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik. Join us in strengthening this movement for an empowered and progressive Odisha,” the opening statement of the campaign website gharegharesankha.in said.

BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said BJD initiatives evoke unprecedented response because people can identify themselves better with the Naveen Patnaik government.

Elections 2025 mark a pivotal year for democratic processes across various regions in India and globally. This includes key state assembly elections, local body polls, and by-elections that could significantly impact national-level politics. Get real-time updates, important dates, voting procedures, and verified news — all in one place. Whether you're tracking results or exploring candidate profiles, this is your go-to hub for Elections 2025.