By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 2, 2016 : With polls for Panchyats in the state less than six months away, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday launched its Jan Sampark Padayatra apparently to sensitise the people about its various developmental initiatives in the State.

Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik kicked off the mass contact drive at Samantarapur Nuagaon here.

The BJD leaders have been trying their best to clarify that the Padyatra has nothing to do with panchyat polls saying that it is annual exercise. But the party will continue the yatra for a month.

BJD leader Rabinarayan Nanda asserted, “The padyatra has nothing to do the ensuing panchayats poll. Every year we are organising this activity.”

Earlier, the party had been observing such programmes for only 10 days from Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) to Jayaprakash Narayan Jayanti (October 11) every year.

“The padayatra proramme has begun so well today. The padayatras are to inform the people about government’s welfare programmes and also central government’s neglect particularly in river Mahanadi and polavaram issues”, Naveen Patnaik said.

The march will be undertaken by the party leaders in every block and panchayat across the State for which 147 party observers have been appointed.

Party leaders said they will reach people with a message of Centre stopping the flow and central negligence over Mahanadi and Polavaram issues.

Meanwhile, the BJP is all set to launch Lajja Satyagrha at all subdivisions across the state targeting the BJD government.

According to sources, the saffron party will target the BJD government over the deteriorating law and order situation, health, transportation state.

Besides, the opposition party will also raise Nagada and Dana Majhi issue in its Lajja Satyagrha, the sources added.