Biju Janata Dal

BJD delegation meets central govt officials over AP's Polavaram project

A delegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has met top officials of ministries of environment and tribal affairs in New Delhi and apprised them of adverse impacts of Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram irrigation project on livelihood, land and interest of indigenous people in Odisha's Malkangiri district, the party said on Thursday. The team met the central officials on Wednesday. The BJD delegation, led by senior leader and former minister Debi Prasad Mishra, had also met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil in the national capital on Tuesday and apprised him of the potential of submergence of large areas in Malkangiri due to the construction of the multi-purpose project in the neighbouring state. The team met Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Leena Nandan and submitted a memorandum to her, highlighting how the Polavaram project would cause extensive damage to the flora and fauna in tribal-majority Malkangiri district of Odisha. The BJD memorandum said, The Polavaram projec

Odisha to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme by this year: Minister Mahaling

The Centre's health coverage scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will be implemented in Odisha by the end of the current financial year, a state minister said here on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to launch AB-PMJAY for all citizens aged 70 years and above across the country on Tuesday.Odisha will also adopt it, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said. The previous BJD government did not implement the central scheme in Odisha. The BJD had launched its health assurance scheme, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) which was renamed Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (G-JAY) by the BJP government. Speaking to media persons here, Mahaling said around 3.5 crore out of 4.5 crore people in Odisha will be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Besides, the process is on to identify beneficiaries of 70 years and above, he said. "We have already started preparation for its implementation in our state. A budgetary provision of Rs 3,500 c

Naveen Patnaik's close aide Pandian quits politics after BJD's defeat

VK Pandian announced his withdrawal from politics following Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) defeat in the Odisha state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2024

'Pandian not my successor, people of Odisha to decide': Naveen Patnaik

The Biju Janata Dal suffered a defeat in the Odisha assembly polls at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party, putting an end to the 24-year-old reign of Naveen Patnaik

Congress takes dig at BJD, YSRCP after parties face crushing defeats

The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at the BJD and YSRCP after they suffered crushing defeats in the assembly and Lok Sabha polls, saying that from the BJP's "B-teams" they have become the "has-been" teams. The BJP on Tuesday stormed to power in Odisha by dethroning the BJD which has been in power for the last 24 years. The BJD drew a blank in the Lok Sabha polls. The Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP suffered a crushing defeat in the assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh at the hands of the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP in the assembly polls. The YSRCP secured just four seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Over the past ten years, the BJD was the B-team of the BJP in Parliament. It supported Mr. Modi on every issue." "Over the past ten years, YSRCP was another B-team of the BJP, which supported Mr. Modi on every issue. From B-teams, they have become the has-been teams," Ramesh said. This is what happens to regional parties who place their trust in

Odisha election result 2024: BJP crosses majority mark, BJD trails behind

In Odisha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surpassed the halfway mark, while the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik is currently trailing

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Exit polls today. Key things to watch out for

According to Election Commission rules, exit poll data will start coming only after 6:30 pm onwards

2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly elections: Here's all you need to know

As voting is currently underway in the fourth phase of the Odisha Assembly polls 2024, here's a quick look at the assembly seats, polling dates and key candidates

BJD moves EC against Sambit Patra for distributing clocks with BJP symbol

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday moved to the Election Commission (EC) accusing BJP nominee for Puri Lok Sabha constituency Sambit Patra of distributing clocks adorned with the saffron party symbol, and his photograph to shopkeepers ahead of the polls. A BJD delegation led by Rajya Sabha Member Sulata Deo has submitted a petition to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha in this regard. "It has come to our attention that Sambit Patra and his campaign team have resorted to gross misconduct by distributing clocks adorned with the BJP logo, lotus symbol, and even Patra's photograph," the BJD alleged in its petition. Alleging this move of Patra is a blatant attempt to influence voters and also a clear violation of the model code of conduct, the BJD said, "We strongly condemn such reprehensible actions by Patra and his team. It is imperative that immediate and stringent action be taken by the EC to rectify this situation and ensure that the sanctity of the electoral process is ..

2024 Lok Sabha elections: BJD fields 33% women and 38% turncoats

In the 2019 elections, the BJD had bagged 12 LS seats, the BJP won 8 and the Congress managed just one

Forests rights key issue in 103 BJP represented seats: Vasundhara report

BJP MPs represent 103 of the 153 Lok Sabha seats in the country where the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 is a major issue, according to a recent report. The Congress, which enacted the FRA, and the Biju Janata Dal represent 11 seats each, Shiv Sena 6, Telangana Rashtra Samithi and YSRCP 5 each, and the National Congress Party 4, the analysis by independent organisation Vasundhara found. Considered a milestone in redressing the historical injustice done to Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers, the Forest Rights Act 2006 aims to recognise forest rights of such communities living in forests for generations. According to the analysis, there are 86 Lok Sabha seats where people demanding forest rights account for over 30 per cent of the electorate. Similarly, there are 45 seats where FRA eligible voters comprise over 40 per cent of the electorate. These include the Khunti Lok Sabha seat where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has repeated Tribal Affairs ...

We will make govt on our own, no alliance with BJD, says Odisha BJP Prez

Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal on Thursday asserted that his party will form the next government in the state "on its own", amid talks of a pre-poll alliance with the BJD. Samal, who along with senior state BJP leaders held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday night on the possibility of the alliance, did not make any reference to such a prospect. BJP will form the government in the state alone with the blessings and cooperation of people, he told reporters after returning from the national capital in the morning. Leaders of the BJD were also set to hold a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the afternoon over the issue. Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the assembly will be held in Odisha.

15 years after severing ties, Naveen Patnaik's BJD set to return to NDA

For the BJP, a formal alliance with BJD will not only improve morale but also provide a huge boost to the saffron party's goal of 370 Lok Sabha seats and 400-plus for the NDA

Five-time MLA Arabinda Dhali resigns from BJD, says will join BJP

Five-time MLA Arabinda Dhali on Saturday resigned from the ruling BJD, and said that he would join the opposition BJP. Dhali, the MLA of Jayadev in Khordha district, said he has sent his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik via e-mail. He, however, did not mention any reason for his resignation. Dhali was first elected to the assembly from the Malkangiri seat in a by-election in 1992 on a BJP ticket. He retained the seat for two consecutive terms. He then joined the BJD, and was elected to the assembly from Jayadev in 2009. He also won the 2019 election from the seat. He was the transport and corporation minister in Patnaik's government. Last month, expelled BJD MLAs Pradeep Panigrahy and Prashant Jagdev also joined the BJP. Former state minister Debasis Nayak of the BJD also switched sides recently. The assembly elections in the state are slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

Deciphering Naveen Patnaik: What is Odisha CM's political grammar?

The Odisha CM was once seen as the quintessential outsider, partly because of his struggle with the Odia language. Now he stands on the cusp of history

More than 10,000 people have applied for BJD tickets for LS, Assembly polls

More than 10,000 people have applied for Biju Janata Dal (BJD) tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha and the Odisha Assembly elections which will be held simultaneously, a senior party leader said. The Odisha Assembly has a strength of 147 MLAs while there are 21 Lok Sabha MP seats in the state. "More than 10,000 people, including many professionals, have applied for party tickets for the coming polls", BJD organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das said in a post on X. "We strongly believe that BJD is moving towards a historic victory in this election with the blessings of 4.5 crore people of Odisha", Das said. The BJD leader claimed that the people of Odisha have already made up their minds to install Naveen Patnaik as the chief minister for the sixth consecutive time. "The BJD is all set to register a massive victory in the upcoming elections", Das claimed. The BJD leader claimed that all the national-level survey reports in recent years have found Naveen Patnaik as the number o

Ahead of LS polls, transgender community seeks bigger share of tickets

Members of the transgender community are demanding a bigger share of tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and the recognition of 'Trans Shakti' in hopes of getting their voices heard. Belonging to one of the country's most marginalised communities, the transgender people said only they can fight for the rights of the community whose members are shunned during the day and exploited at night. Hoping that more political parties will give tickets to transgender people for the general elections, the community members said the narrative of 'Nari Shakti' (women empowerment) must be transcended so that 'Trans Shakti' can also get due recognition and representation. Meera Parida, Vice President of Biju Mahila Janata Dal, who was born as Mayadhar Parida, lamented how despite 75 years since Independence, the trans community members are shunned during the day and exploited at night. "I am ready to contest Vidhan Sabha or Lok Sabha polls if the party decides to entrust me with the ...

Odisha has created new history in all areas of development, says CM Patnaik

Odisha is on the path of transformation. In the last twenty years, the state has created new history in all areas of development, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday

Five-time MLA, former BJD minister Balabhadra Majhi joins Congress

Five-time MLA and former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) minister Balabhadra Majhi has joined the Congress

With Jagannatha temple corridor, Naveen Patnaik's BJD looks to one-up BJP

With the grand unveiling of the Jagannatha heritage corridor, Naveen Patnaik plans to undercut any gains the BJP may have in Odisha because of the Ayodhya event