CM intensifies demand for special category status in poll-

Ahead of the 2019 elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday intensified the demand for Special Category Status for the state and said Odisha has been a victim of central neglect and natural calamities.

Patnaik, who prior to 2014 general elections had taken up the Special Category Status (SCS) demand to Delhi, this time choose to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

The state's BJD government had also placed its demand before the 15th Finance Commission, which visited Odisha recently.

"It is in this premise of historical Central neglect and frequent natural calamities that my government has been demanding Special Category Status for Odisha which will supplement out efforts in transforming the state," Patnaik wrote to Modi.

Stating that Odisha has been registering a growth rate higher than the nation's, Patnaik said, "Providing SCS will further accelerate industrial development and in turn more jobs for our youths."