"People eager to vote for change": Cuttack candidate Bhartruhari Mahtab talks up BJP's LS poll prospects in Odisha

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 31 (ANI): Voicing doubts over the state development prospects under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab on Sunday said there was a need for a 'double-engine' government in the state.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the two-time former BJD MP, who is bidding for a fresh term in the Lower House from Cuttack on a BJP ticket this time, said the people want to vote for change.
He added that a change was coming as the incumbent BJD government was losing its hold on power.
"We all want Odisha to make rapid development strides. However, the development, at the moment, isn't taking place at the pace it should. Odisha has had a stable political leadership at its helm since 1980. We have seen several chief ministers presiding over stable governments but the pace of development hasn't improved. Hence, the need of the hour is for a double-engine government in the state. I believe that the people of Odisha are eager to vote for change this time and bring BJP to power. A change is coming and the wheels of this corrupt government are starting to come off," Mahtab added.
Meanwhile, speaking on the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, city police commissioner Sanjeeb Panda said, "We reviewed the election preparedness in Cuttack. All the police stations in charge, ACPs and DCP, Cuttack attended the meeting. We have decided on special steps for critical booths. These include the deployment of CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) and webcasting."
He added that over the last three months, the enforcement and seizures ahead of the elections have been 'quite satisfactory'.
"We have seized cash worth about Rs 2 lakh and liquor worth Rs 30 lakh. Together with the local police, we are also conducting flag marches in sensitive pockets," he added.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) emerged as the dominant party, securing 20 out of the 21 seats, while the BJP won a single seat.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won a lion's share of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state while the BJP and the Congress brought up the rear.
The BJD won 12 seats in 2019, while the BJP finished a close second at 8 seats and the Congress bagged just a lone seat.
The Lok Sabha elections in Odisha are to be held in four phases--on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. (ANI)