Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Begusarai:

Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said that Bharat Ratna should be conferred upon Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

“Nitish Kumar has worked for the development of the state. Naveen Patnaik has also served Odisha for years. Such people should be honoured with awards like Bharat Ratna,” Giriraj Singh told reporters.

He further said that the NDA government will be formed under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.

“NDA government will be formed again in Bihar. Nitish Kumar has been the Chief Minister for so many years. Today’s children who have turned thirty have not seen Lalu ji’s jungle raj,” he added.

On Tuesday, Union Minister and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly election under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

“In the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, the NDA will contest under the leadership of Nitish Kumar,” Ranjan Singh told ANI.

The ruling NDA did well in the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar. Apart from BJP, NDA in Bihar includes JD-U, LJP (Ram Vilas) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular).

Nitish Kumar toppled the Mahagathbandhan government a few months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election and again formed a government with the BJP.

BJP is senior partner in the NDA in the state. While BJP has 84 MLAs, JD(U) has 48 in the State Assembly.

Notably, the Assembly elections for 243 assembly seats in Bihar are likely to be held at the end of 2025.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Responding to allegations that Odisha government officials took bribes for a power purchase agreement in 2021, when it was in power in the state, the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal has said the deal was between two government entities and no private parties, including the Adani Group, were involved.

A similar statement has also been made by the DMK, which is in power in Tamil Nadu.

“This power purchase agreement made in 2021 was between two government agencies – a central government public sector undertaking (PSU) which is a mini navratna of the Government of India Solar Energy Corporation of India (under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy) and a state govt PSU Gridco – solely for the purpose of supply of renewable energy. This is part of a central government scheme called the manufacturing linked solar scheme,” Pratap Keshari Deb, Odisha’s former energy minister and the deputy chief whip of the BJD in the state Assembly, said in a statement.

Mr Deb said that the agreement was to procure 500 MW of renewable energy from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) at the lowest rates discovered by the PSU. “There was no engagement with any private party whatsoever, including the Adani Group,” he said.

Highlighting that the state has been procuring renewable energy from central government PSUs like SECI and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) since 2011, the party said that the allegations were “baseless and incorrect”.

Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji said the state has an understanding to buy power only from a firm owned by the Union government.

“I would like to first clarify that as regards TN Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), there has been no kind of commercial relationship with Mr Adani’s company during the past three years (after the DMK formed the government in May 2021),” Mr Balaji said.

The minister said Tamil Nadu inked a pact for procurement of 1,500MW with SECI, adding “there is no direct contact with Mr Adani’s firm”.

The Adani Group has firmly denied a US government department report alleging bribery for power contracts.

“All possible legal recourse will be sought. The Adani Group has always upheld and is steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations. We assure our stakeholders, partners and employees that we are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws,” the Group said in a statement.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

Bhubaneswar:

A day after demanding a court-monitored SIT probe and a judicial inquiry into the alleged sexual assault of a woman in custody, Opposition BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said “women are not safe even inside police stations.” Mr Patnaik made these remarks while addressing party leaders from Kendrapara and Gajapati districts at the BJD’s state headquarters, Sankha Bhavan.

He expressed concern, saying, “It’s sad that women are not safe even inside police stations in Bhubaneswar and government servants are beaten up in Raj Bhavan. It seems there’s no law and order in the state.”

This comment was in reference to the September 15 incident involving the alleged torture of an army officer and the sexual harassment of his fiancée at Bharatpur police station and the physical assault on an on-duty government employee allegedly by the governor’s son earlier.

Mr Patnaik, the Leader of the Opposition in Odisha Assembly, also addressed the BJD Scheduled Caste Cell, urging party leaders to raise awareness about the “false” poll promises made by the BJP concerning the Subhadra Yojana, pension and allowances, and free electricity.

The BJD has consistently claimed that the BJP has failed to fulfill its promises to the electorate. Despite pledging to provide Rs 50,000 to all women in the state within two years, the BJP later denied many women this opportunity, the party claimed. It said that women aged 21 to 60 were selected as beneficiaries of the Subhadra Yojana.

Mr Patnaik instructed party leaders to inform the public about the BJP’s “lies” regarding promises of 300 units of free electricity and a Rs 3,500 old-age pension, emphasising the need to highlight these issues among people.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhubaneswar:

With the Odisha Assembly continuing to witness ruckus for the second day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Tuesday sought the arrest of BJD President and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik for alleged indiscipline during Governor address Raghubar Das’ address in the House on Monday.

Mr Mahaling accused the LoP of breaching the rules of the House, saying he needs to be arrested for the alleged indiscipline.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJD said the statement made by Mr Mahaling shows BJP’s lack of experience in running the government.

Speaking to mediapersons, BJD leader Arun Kumar Sahoo said, “What he referred to shows his lack of experience. I have never seen anyone being arrested in the history of Vidhan Sabha proceedings.”

Meanwhile, Speaker Surama Padhy on Tuesday adjourned the House till 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday after the opposition continued to create a ruckus over the alleged assault on an assistant section officer by the son of Governor Das.

The opposition BJD and the Congress MLAs reached the Well of the House and engaged in sloganeering demanding action against the Governor’s son after the House proceedings resumed at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Odisha LoP Naveen Patnaik.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Biju Janata Dal has lashed out at the Narendra Modi government accusing that Odisha’s demand for special category State status has been overlooked in the Union Budget while crores of funds have been allocated for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

Reacting to the Budget, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “BJP had put special category status in their manifesto as a promise to the people of Odisha. However, this promise has not been considered for Odisha, whereas special packages, allocating crores of funds have been announced for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.”

“Along with this, the demand of Odisha for revision of coal royalty, which has been pending for years with the central government, has been rejected, because of which the State will lose thousands of crores of revenue every year,” Mr. Patnaik charged, terming the Budget disappointing.

In sync with the party’s stand, all the BJD MPs in Rajya Sabha walked out of House when the Union Budget was being laid.

“Before Walking out, the BJD MPs strongly said in the House that they were walking out due to the denial of Special Category State status to Odisha. While Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar had been asking for the special category, the two states got Special additional funds while Odisha’s demand was not considered,” said BJD MP and party spokesperson Sasmit Patra.

He sarcastically said probably this was the punishment meted out to Odisha for electing 20 Lok Sabha BJP MPs out of 21 MPs from Odisha.

“Lots of big promises in different sectors were made to the people of Odisha during the election campaign especially on agriculture , MSME and industry. There is no mention of any promise being fulfilled in this Budget. This is a complete neglect of Odisha and her people,” the BJD supremo maintained.

Mr. Patnaik further said, “We all know that Odisha faces a number of natural disasters every year, including floods. We had requested for a special package for disaster management. While similar requests of other States have been considered and they have been granted special packages for flood protection, the genuine demand of Odisha on disaster management has not been considered.”

The former CM pointed out, “we have been fighting for Justice in the Polavaram issue. Allocating more and more funds for Polavaram without sorting out the genuine grievances of Odisha shows impartiality against Odisha.”

On the expected line, the State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the budget saying it was progressive and aimed at achieving goal of Vikshit Bharat.

Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singh Deo said, “When a 24-year-old government did not take any step to improve the tourism sector, the Central government’s specific announcement for Odisha’s tourism development should be welcomed. It will generate employment.”

“Whatever special assistance is required for Odisha has been granted through different infrastructure projects and national programmes. Odisha has got more than its due share,” Mr. Singh Deo said. The State government would take up the issue of submergence of localities in its Malkangiri district due to Polavaram project of Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is now the state’s Leader of Opposition, has drawn up a shadow cabinet to scrutinise and take on the ruling BJP and its Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. The move comes ahead of the budget session of the state assembly, which is set to begin from next Monday.

The 50-member UK-style shadow cabinet reflects the early experiences of Mr Patnaik who spent a large part of his pre-politics life in the UK.

The members of the shadow cabinet are mostly former ministers of his government, who are expected to keep tabs on each minister and his department and prepare alternative plans and policies in areas the government could slip up.

“The Opposition party is the custodian of people’s interests. The Opposition party has a significant role to play in the state Assembly.

The MLAs will keep close watch on the activities of departments assigned to them and actively take part during discussion of those departments in the state Assembly. They will work to protect the interests of the people,” a statement issued by the BJD on Wednesday quoted Mr Patnaik as saying.

The former Chief Minister’s move not only underscores the active role he plans to play from the Opposition benches, it also brushes off the notion that many had — that the Biju Janata Dal will now be politically irrelevant.

The BJD found itself out of power in the recently concluded election after 24 years. The BJP unseated the government of Naveen Patnaik winning 78 of the 147 assembly seats. The BJD won 51 seats.

Days later, as Mr Patnaik was elected the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, the BJD signalled that it means business.

The party, which was the BJP’s friend in Rajya Sabha, said its MPs would not be confined to speaking on issues only, but would hold agitation if the BJP-led government at the Centre “ignores Odisha’s interest”.

The party has already ranged itself alongside the Opposition on the NEET issue and even held walkouts in parliament.

Bhubaneswar:

Odisha Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik on Thursday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the unfortunate mishap in which Lord Balabhadra slipped on the ‘Charamala’ (makeshift ramp) while being taken in ‘Pahandi’ from his chariot to Gundicha Temple, (Adap Mandap or Yajna Vedi).

The LoP expressed dismay and stated the incident has deeply hurt the millions of devotees across the globe. He said the holy triad is the supreme deity of Odia people and the symbol of Odia Asmita or Odia self-identity.

ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅସ୍ମିତାର ପ୍ରତୀକ। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାତିର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପରିଚୟ। ଚଳିତ ବର୍ଷ ବଡ଼ ଠାକୁରଙ୍କ ଆଡ଼ପ ମଣ୍ଡପ ପହଣ୍ଡିବେଳେ ଯେଉଁ ଅଘଟଣ ଘଟିଲା, ତାହା ସାରା ବିଶ୍ବର ଜଗନ୍ନାଥପ୍ରେମୀଙ୍କୁ ବ୍ୟଥିତ କରିଛି I ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହି ଅଘଟଣରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ। ଏଭଳି ସ୍ପର୍ଶକାତର ଘଟଣାରେ ରାଜ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀମଣ୍ଡଳର କିଛି ସଦସ୍ୟ ଯେଭଳି… pic.twitter.com/oadFKjpYFJ

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 11, 2024

“The incident that happened during His Pahandi this year is unheard of and unparalleled. The sight of Bada Thakura falling face down during Charamala Pahandi was heart-wrenching. Such an unfortunate incident was unheard of during thousands of years of history of the chariot festival. It was impossible for the Jagannatha devotees to believe what they were witnessing live on that day,” wrote Mr Patnaik.

He also took a dig at the statements of the Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida describing the mishap as a minor incident.

“The way some members of the Odisha Cabinet made callus comments about such a sensitive subject has doubled the grief of Jagannatha lovers. The incident has deeply hurt the feelings of all the devotees of the Lord. Such an insensitive approach of the government could not assuage the wounded feelings of Jagannatha Devotees,” added LoP Mr  Patnaik.

He also urged the Chief Minister to take personal responsibility himself and ensure that such an incident does not recur.

“I believe your exemplary steps in this direction will help in reassuring crores of devotees of Lord Jagannath,” said Naveen Patnaik.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhubaneswar:

Ex-Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal – which helped ex-ally Bharatiya Janata Party pass key bills in the Modi government’s first two terms, when it lacked numbers in the Rajya Sabha – seems to have firmly switched sides now and labelled itself a “strong and vibrant opposition”.

“We will make the centre accountable on all issues. BJD MPs will raise all issues pertaining to the state’s development and the welfare of the people of Odisha. Many rightful demands haven’t been met,” the party quoted Mr Patnaik after a meeting with his nine Rajya Sabha MPs in Bhubaneswar Monday.

“(We will) be the voice of 4.5 crore people of Odisha in Parliament…”

The BJD’s assertive stance comes not only after providing the BJP outside support on various issues in the past 10 years, but after breakdown in alliance talks in March, just weeks before the elections began.

Had those talks born fruit, the BJD and Mr Modi’s party would have re-allied nearly 15 years after a split that prompted late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj to say Mr Patnaik would “regret” snapping ties.

NDTV Explains | 15 Years After Split, Naveen Patnaik’s BJD Hints At NDA Return

In the past, support from the BJD and ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy – his YSR Congress was ousted by the BJP’s ally, Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP – was crucial on several occasions, such as the election of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to the Rajya Sabha in 2009 and 2014.

More recently, the BJD’s support also helped the BJP push through the Delhi services bill, ensured a no-confidence motion against the Modi government flopped, and pushed through laws like Triple Talaq and the J&K Reorganisation Bill.

BJD’s “Rightful Demands” From BJP

The “rightful demands”, the BJD’s statement said, ranged from ‘special category’ status for Odisha to housing and education for the poor, and from establishment of premier medical institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences – “… not satellite units” – to improved national highways.

The party also flagged social and economic issues, including the controversial topic of MSP, or minimum support price, for farmers, which has been a bone of contention between the opposition and the BJP since the violent protests of 2021/22. The BJD also said it will “demand inclusion of 162 communities” in the state’s Scheduled Tribes list, which it said it had been lobbying for “for many years”.

All of this comes after thumping wins by Mr Modi’s party in the May-June Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. In the former the BJP routed the BJD by winning 20 of the state’s 21 seats and, in the latter, Mr Patnaik – who lost the Kantabanji seat to the BJP’s Laxman Bag – won only 51 of 147, down from 112 five years ago. The BJP secured 78 – four over majority – to form its first Odisha government.

READ | “Oh, You Defeated Me”: BJD Boss Naveen Patnaik To BJP MLA

The twin defeats left Mr Patnaik firmly on the backfoot in a state he has dominated since 2000; his BJD had won every Assembly poll and over 50 per cent of Lok Sabha seats in each general election.

In fact, the BJD has failed, for the first time, to win even one Lok Sabha seat.

READ | After Heated Campaign, PM, Patnaik Greet Each Other At Swearing-In

The BJD, which had 12 Lok Sabha MPs in 2019, now has only nine in the Rajya Sabha. And that number will be cut in half in 2026, when four Odisha seats – now held by the BJD – fall vacant.

“Will Be Strong Opposition”

Earlier today BJD leader Sasmit Patra said party boss Naveen Patnaik had given “clear instructions to fight for the rights of the state’s people in Parliament”. “No more support to BJP, only opposition. We may go to any extent to protect the interests of Odisha,” he said after Mr Patnaik’s meeting.

READ | Will Be “Strong Opposition” For BJP: Naveen Patnaik’s Party

In the recent election the BJD was not part of the Congress-led INDIA bloc, which united the opposition to stifle Mr Modi, the BJP, and the party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Mr Patnaik and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – who helped found the INDIA group before jumping ship to the NDA after internal rows – met in May last year but the BJD boss remained non-committal and passed off the meeting as one between “old friends and colleagues”.

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New Delhi:

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged a “sudden deterioration” in Naveen Patnaik’s health condition, the Odisha Chief Minister today said he is “very well” and hopes to “continue to serve the people of my state”.

The Biju Janata Dal chief, the second longest-serving chief minister of the country, was speaking to news agency ANI ahead of the final phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. The state polls in Odisha are being held alongside the general election.

A series of social media videos purportedly showing Mr Patnaik in a frail condition had prompted the BJP to question his health. In a rally at Odisha’s Balasore, the Prime Minister hinted at a “conspiracy” behind the “sudden deterioration” in the 77-year-old Chief Minister’s health. “Is the lobby that is currently running the Patnaik government on his behalf responsible for it?” the Prime Minister said, adding that if the BJP comes to power in the eastern state, it will form a panel to probe this matter.

Soon after, Mr Patnaik responded, “Let me assure the PM that I am in perfect health and I have been campaigning in the state for the last month. He has stated publicly earlier that I am his good friend. All he had to do was pick up the telephone and ask me about my health. But a number of BJP people from Odisha and Delhi are spreading rumours about my health.”

#WATCH | On PM Narendra Modi, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik says, “I have done that (dialling PM Modi) often. The Prime Minister has said in recent public meetings that I am a good friend of his. So, if he heard these rumours and was concerned about it, was it not his duty to pick up… pic.twitter.com/OfMIERNYcC

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

Asked about his remark in which he said that the Prime Minister could have just picked up the phone and checked on him, Mr Patnaik told ANI, “The PM has said in public meetings that I am a good friend of his. So wasn’t it his duty, if he heard these rumours and was concerned, to have just picked up the telephone and asked me about them?”

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a video of Mr Patnaik in which his hand appears to be shaking. Also seen in the video is VK Pandian, Mr Patnaik’s long-term aide and a former IAS officer who has now joined BJD. The BJP has repeatedly targeted Mr Pandian, alleging that he is controlling the state government.

“This is a deeply distressing video. Shri VK Pandian ji is even controlling the hand movements of Shri Naveen Babu. I shudder to imagine the level of control a retired ex bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu is currently exercising over the future of Odisha!” Mr Sarma posted on X. Mr Patnaik responded, “I believe the BJP which is known to make non-issues into issues, are discussing my hands. This will certainly not work.”

#WATCH | On allegations by the opposition and former BJD leaders that “VK Pandian takes decisions on behalf of CM Patnaik”, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik says, “…This is ridiculous and I have said it often before, this is an old allegation and it holds no weight.” pic.twitter.com/FTNZSoEqOe

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

During the interview with ANI, Mr Patnaik was asked about allegations that Mr Pandian is his “gatekeeper” and takes decisions on the Chief Minister’s behalf. “That is ridiculous and I have said this often before. It’s an old allegation and it holds no weight,” the veteran leader replied.

Odisha is among the BJP’s key focus areas in this election, and party leaders have said they are confident of a good show in both the general election and state polls. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said their Odisha target is to win 17 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state and 75 out of 147 Assembly seats. The BJD won 12 seats in the state in 2019, while the BJP bagged right. In fact, the two parties were expected to tie-up ahead of the polls, but the talks fell through.