BHUBANESWAR: State

on Thursday said if the party is voted to power in 2019, it would waive off farm loan within five hours of forming government. His statement comes days after the party did the same in

, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where it recently won the assembly elections.

“Our party won the three states by standing besides farmers in their moment of crisis and promising to bring a smile on their faces. The newly formed Congress government in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan took just two days to waive farm loans. In Odisha, if voted to power, Congress will waive farm loan within five hours of forming government. It is our solemn promise to our annadatas (farmers),” Niranjan said.

He, however, did not comment about the financial burden it would entail on the exchequer.

Niranjan also took a dig at the ruling BJD for doing precious little for farmers. “For the last 18 years, BJD did nothing for our annadatas. Now the party is getting stomach ache when Congress government in Chhattisgarh announced bonus on MSP (minimum support price) of paddy,” Niranjan tweeted.

The state Congress chief also slammed the healthcare condition and law and order situation. He launched a campaign on social media posting videos and photographs showing the plight of patients in inaccessible pockets in the state.

“Even after 18 years of BJD rule, we still hear news about patients being carried to hospitals in cots. When Congress forms government in 2019, ambulances will reach homes of all those in need,” Niranjan tweeted.

BJD branded Niranjan’s promises as eyewash. “Farmers were the worst sufferers during the Congress rule in the past. People, including farmers of the state, have been blessing chief minister Naveen Patnaik since 2000 for his persistent welfare and development schemes. The state government is committed to farmers’ welfare,” BJD spokesperson Samir Dash said.