Dharmendra Pradhan: The New ‘Pradhan’ of Odisha!
Dharmendra Pradhan: The New ‘Pradhan’ of Odisha!
At a recent poll rally in Odisha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised his cabinet colleague Dharmendra Pradhan for leading the team that crafted the manifesto for the Odisha assembly elections this year. A few days later, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hinted at an expanded role for Pradhan.
During one of his poll rallies in Odisha, Amit Shah credited Dharmendra Pradhan for his leadership in forming the manifesto for the Odisha assembly elections.
Shortly after, Rajnath Singh suggested a bigger role for Dharmendra Pradhan. With the BJP securing a majority to form its first government in Odisha, Union Education Minister Pradhan has emerged as the top contender for the Chief Minister’s position.
Pradhan, 54, a postgraduate from Utkal University, has been a key lieutenant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah over the past decade and is the BJP’s most prominent face in the eastern coastal state.
The manifesto that Shah credited to Pradhan was a key factor in swinging the election results in the BJP’s favor.
It included promises such as buying paddy at ₹ 3,100 per quintal, offering a cash voucher of ₹ 50,000 to women under the Subhadra Yojana, and fighting for Odia asmita (identity).
It wasn’t just the manifesto that played a significant role. Pradhan joined forces with Modi and Shah to highlight other critical issues that bolstered the BJP’s campaign. These included attacking IAS-turned-politician VK Pandian as an outsider and the emotive issue of the “missing keys” to the sacred Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) at the Puri Jagannath Temple.
As in 2019, Pradhan played a leading role in managing the BJP’s poll strategy this time as well, overseeing day-to-day affairs in the run-up to the elections and drawing up the manifesto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LmoNtYu8Yc
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