Nuapada, Nov 4: With the Nuapada Assembly bypoll scheduled for November 11, BJP MP Malvika Devi on Tuesday made a strong pitch for the party’s candidate, Jay Dholakia, urging voters to reject both Congress and BJD and support the BJP’s vision for development.

Women at the Heart of Development

Speaking at a public meeting, Malvika Devi said that under the BJP-led double-engine government, women in Odisha have transitioned from being mere beneficiaries to becoming “Lakshapatis” (lakhpatis). She highlighted the Subhadra Scheme, which provides Rs50,000 in direct financial aid to women, and noted that nearly 80,000 women in Nuapada have already benefited.

Through initiatives like Lakshapati Didi, women in self-help groups have become successful entrepreneurs, gaining financial independence and contributing to the local economy. The BJP government, she said, is committed to ensuring that no eligible woman is left behind.

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Welfare and Empowerment

Malvika Devi praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consistent focus on women’s welfare since 2014. From Ujjwala gas connections and pucca houses under PM Awas Yojana to toilets and business loans, she said these schemes have empowered women to become builders of a new Odisha.

The BJP leader also highlighted the government’s support for farmers—offering Rs3,100 per quintal for paddy—and enhanced food security through increased rice distribution.

 A Call for Change

Criticizing the Congress and BJD for decades of “deception,” Malvika Devi said the people of Nuapada have suffered under their rule. She cited the 2024 general election results, where even Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik lost in neighboring Kantabanji, as a sign of changing public sentiment.

Expressing confidence in a BJP victory, she urged voters to elect Jay Dholakia with a massive mandate, saying, “This time, Nuapada will choose development over deception.”