Bhubaneswar: Even after 19 years in power, Naveen Patnaik still popular among the people of Odisha. This is what admits the BJP, the arc rival of Naveen’s BJD in the state.

BJP’s national general secretary and Odisha prabhari Arun Singh has said that Patnaik enjoys the love of the people of Odisha.

In an interview to a national Enghlish daily, Singh has said that there was no anti-incumbency against him(Patnaik) personally.

Speaking about the failure of BJP in the Odisha assembly polls, Singh has said,” People didn’t see us as an alternative to Naveen Patnaik.” “There was anti-incumbency against his(Patnaik) government buy not against him personally,” said the BJP’a national general secretary.

Singh said that the BJD’s welfare schemes, particularly direct money transfers, announced just before the elections worked in favour of the ruling BJD in the state.

About the BJP’s plan in the state, the Odisha prabhari said that the eight MPs of the BJP would see that the organisation is maintain its strength and convert it into votes. The party will occupy them with a mission to spread the programmes.