Puri election, local voices favour development, strong leadership

PURI: In the ongoing sixth phase of elections in Puri, Odisha, known as the “City of Jagannath,” is a revered pilgrimage destination in Odisha, India. Famous for the grand Jagannath Temple and the annual Rath Yatra festival, Puri attracts millions of devotees and tourists worldwide.

The New Indian team reaches to understand the sentiments of the local people. Sambit Patra from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jay Narayan Patnaik from the Congress party and Arup Patnaik from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), positioned in opposition. Amidst the electoral fervor, residents voiced their opinions, firmly expressing their belief that Naveen Patnaik will continue to serve as the Chief Minister of the state.

When Executive Editor of The New Indian, Rohan Dua, interacted with local residents to know about the election’s likely outcome, Shushant Biswa said, “Modi will definitely win. He has performed well. While Naveen Patnaik is our leader in Odisha, Modi’s work across the nation has been commendable.”

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Another local Pravachan Swain expressed, “Modi will certainly become the Prime Minister. The people of Odisha want Modi. As for the Chief Minister, it will be a tough contest between Naveen Patnaik and the BJP, but with Jagannath’s blessings, Modi will emerge victorious. He has worked on the economy and various significant projects, unlike any previous Prime Minister, which is why we support him.”

Rashmita Das, about the likely winner among BJP, Congress, and Naveen Patnaik, she remarked, “It’s challenging to say because Naveen Patnaik reigns here, but Modi will be the Prime Minister. No previous PM could build the Ram Mandir, but Modi did. The country is progressing with GST, economic reforms, and anti-corruption measures. The development in Odisha credits Naveen Patnaik, but Modi’s support has been crucial. Both have Jagannath’s blessings.”

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In another conversation, a local Pratigya Mishra emphasized that, while Naveen Patnaik is ideal for Odisha, Modi is perfect for India. “Modi has achieved a lot for India, but for Odisha, Naveen Patnaik is the best. The Puri temple’s development should be credited to our Chief Minister. Narendra Modi has done little for Puri, but for India, he is unmatched.”

Another resident echoed similar sentiments, asserting, “We want Modi as the PM. There’s no leader like Modi, who is doing excellent work both domestically and internationally, enhancing the Hindu community’s reputation. In Odisha, Patnaik will prevail, but Modi will lead the nation.”

Keshav Sahu also remarked, “Modi will return to power at the center, and Naveen Patnaik will continue in our state. They have both done commendable work for Hindus, infrastructure, and organization.”

Locals express strong belief in development. They highlight Narendra Modi’s national efforts and Naveen Patnaik’s contributions to Odisha’s progress, particularly in projects like the Puri temple. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, BJD’s Pinaki Mishra won the Puri constituency with 538,321 votes, while BJP’s Sambit Patra secured second place with 526,607 votes. The voter turnout was notable at 72.53%.