Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik made a whirlwind tour of several districts as campaigning came for the third phase polling in the State came to an end on Sunday. Mr. Patnaik has been spearheading his party’s campaign across the State in his bid to stop the saffron surge, while the BJP has roped in several top leaders to campaign for their party nominees across Odisha at frequent intervals. Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah are scheduled to visit Odisha again before the fourth and last phase of the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the State on April 29. The two top leaders are focusing on Odisha claiming that their party will spring a surprise this time. While the BJD and the BJP were engaged in high pitched campaign, the Congress has been lagging behind badly.

Source: The Hindu April 21, 2019 20:15 UTC