The State’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has in effect started gearing up for the 2024 general elections. The party is going to organise a massive month-long ‘Jan Sampark Padayatra’ from the Gandhi Jayanti, October 2 to November 2 across the State to woo the voters.

Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has written a letter in this regard to party functionaries, including MPs, MLAs, district presidents, observers and heads of all wings of the party.

During the Padayatra, the party will celebrate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Sashtri Jayanti on October2, the birth anniversary of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das on October 9 and the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan on October 11.

Starting from the district level, the Padayatra would be held in every ward and panchayat, Patnaik said in his letter.

The office-bearers of various wings the BJD such as Biju Mahila Janata Dal, Minority Cell, Biju Yuva Janata Dal, Cooperation, Law, Biju Krushak Janata Dal, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal will actively participate in the Padayatra and ensure participation of large numbers of people in the rallies and meetings.

The party workers and leaders will reach every household to inform them about the developmental schemes and programmes of the BJD Government.

Besides, social welfare programmes like blood donation camp and plantation drive will be organised during the month.

The Chief Minister himself will launch the programme here on October 2. On the concluding day on November 2, all BJD leaders and workers at the district level will take pledge that they will devote their entire life for the development and welfare of the State and its people.

The Padayatra will be stopped on all festival days like Dussehra.