Patnaik invites PM Modi to attend his swearing-in ceremony

Exuding confidence that the BJD will be re-elected to power in Odisha, party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend his swearing-in ceremony after declaration of poll results on May 23.

The coastal state is holding simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in four phases.

Addressing a rally in Balasore parliamentary seat, where election is scheduled to be held on April 29, Patnaik asserted that his party has secured adequate votes in the first three phases to form the next government in the state.

"Yesterday (Tuesday), the prime minister said he will visit Odisha after the exit of the BJD government. The BJD has already secured majority in the first three phases. I politely invite Modiji to attend the BJD government's oath-taking ceremony as a guest," he said.

Patnaik's statement comes a day after Modi, during an election rally in Kendrapara, said, "Naveen babu aapka jana taya hain (Naveen Babu, yours exit is certain)."