Naveen Patnaik to Launch BJD’s Jan Sampark Padayatra on Gandhi Jayanti

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to return from Delhi and inaugurate the party’s annual Jan Sampark Padayatra on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.

The month-long campaign, which will run until November 2, aims to galvanise grassroots support and highlight alleged governance failures under the BJP-led state government.

This year’s padayatra will spotlight pressing public concerns, including inflation, rising crimes against women, fertiliser shortages, and the perceived erosion of the Panchayati Raj system.

The initiative is designed to engage voters directly across all constituencies, with party workers mobilizing to amplify citizen grievances.

A preparatory meeting at Sankha Bhawan saw senior leaders—including Pratap Jena, Debi Prasad Mishra, Santrupt Mishra, and others—strategise the statewide rollout.

Naveen will kick off the campaign from Bhubaneswar’s Ekamra segment, continuing a tradition of launching the yatra from the capital.

The timing of Patnaik’s return from an 18-day Delhi visit, which sparked speculation about national political developments, adds weight to the campaign’s launch.

Clarifying that his trip was for personal reasons, Naveen is expected to lead the padyatra with renewed focus on reconnecting with the electorate.

Party leaders emphasized that the padayatra will also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Gopabandhu Das, and Jayaprakash Narayan, aligning the campaign with the values of democratic engagement and social justice.

As Odisha gears up for future elections, the BJD aims to reclaim its narrative and position itself as the people’s voice.