Page 24 - Odisha

BJP won't be able to win Odisha in next 10 years: Patnaik takes on PM Modi

Asserting that the BJP would not be able to win Odisha in the next 10 years, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday claimed his BJD would return to power for the sixth consecutive time after the assembly elections. Patnaik was reacting to PM Narendra Modi telling an election rally earlier in the day that the swearing-in ceremony of a "BJP chief minister" will be held in Bhubaneswar on June 10. "Nothing will happen on June 10. BJP will not be able to win the hearts of the people in the next 10 years, forget about June 10," the chief minister said, maintaining that the BJD will form the government in Odisha for the sixth consecutive time. He also questioned why Biju Patnaik was not being considered for Bharat Ratna. "There are so many brave sons of Odisha, a few of whom you spoke about today. Don't any of them, including Biju Patnaik, deserve the Bharat Ratna?" Patnaik asked, noting that the Centre has given the honour to several persons recently. He said the people of Odisha ...

PM raises Odisha 'Ashmita' issue, says state being run by unelected CM

Raising Odisha 'Ashmita' (pride) as a key poll issue in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a veiled attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide V K Pandian alleging that the incumbent BJD government in the state is being run by a "Super CM". While raising Odisha 'Ashmita' issue in all the three election meetings at Kandhamal, Bolangir and Bargarh Lok Sabha seats, Modi directly attacked the ruling BJD president Naveen Patnaik over his knowledge about the state. "I am sure, your CM cannot tell name of all the 30 districts and their headquarters without help of a paper," Modi said, stating that he is forced to speak about it as the BJP has decided to save Odisha's 'Ashmita'. "Who is really running the show in the BJD government? There's a 'Super CM' within the BJD who hasn't been elected by the people. The BJD has effectively delegated the role of CM to someone who lacks understanding of Odisha's cultural values," Modi said without naming ...

LS polls: People of Odisha will create history in elections says PM Modi

Ahead of addressing three election rallies in Odisha on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the state will create a history in the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The PM, who is set to address election rallies in Kandhamal, Bolangir and Bargarh Lok Sabha seats later in the day, took to X, saying, "It's clear that Odisha will create history in these elections!" He also attached some pictures of his road show in the state capital on Friday evening. Modi had on Friday night asserted that the BJP will sweep the Lok Sabha elections in both Odisha and West Bengal. Accusing the BJD government headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of being disconnected from the people, the PM claimed that a "deep emotional connect" has developed between him and the people of Odisha despite language differences. "Even during the era of rajas and maharajas, there was some connect between the rulers and the common man. This is grossly lacking now in Odisha," he alleged. Modi sa

Lack of drinking water facility main issue in Odisha's Koraput LS seat

Lack of drinking water facility, better price of agricultural produce of tribal farmers and good healthcare facilities are the main demands of the voters of Koraput Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha which will go to the polls on May 13. Koraput which is also called the Kashmir of Odisha for its hills, waterfalls and forests has more women voters than male. Out of total 14.80 lakh voters, 7,73, 885 are women and 7,06,777 are male. Farmers in Rayagada district, a part of which is under the Koraput Lok Sabha seat, are demanding regulation of cotton farming in the district as the farmers do not get fair price for their produce. They claim that they have to go for distress sale of cotton produce to the traders from Andhra Pradesh as there are no buyers of their cotton. They are demanding that the state government should come to the rescue of cotton growers who are hit by calamities. "While the paddy farmers get compensation over loss of their crop due to calamities, there is no such ...

LS polls: Odisha people fed up with corruption, misrule by BJD, says BJP

The BJP on Tuesday claimed that the party will form a government in Odisha in June after the announcement of assembly election results as the people in the state are fed up with "corruption and misrule" by the ruling BJD. At a press conference here, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda highlighted the key promises made by the saffron party in its manifesto for the state and claimed that Odisha witnessed "rampant corruption in the form of PC (percentage commission) during the BJD rule". Panda's comment comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called himself "son of Lord Jagannath" and asserted that the expiry date of the BJD government in Odisha is June 4, the day the assembly election results will be announced. Odisha would have become the 5th largest economy in the country with its enormous resources in the last 25 years, but the ruling BJD has completely failed to perform, Panda alleged. Panda, who is contesting from Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat as a BJP ...

BJD govt will expire on June 4: PM Narendra Modi at Odisha rally

PM says June 4 as the expiry date of the BJD government in Odisha

LS polls: PM Modi begins two-day Odisha visit, to address 2 rallies today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Sunday night to lead the BJP's campaign for its candidates on Monday, officials said. Modi was received by senior BJP leaders including party's Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi at the Biju Patnaik International Airport. Modi was seen flashing a lotus symbol to people who were standing on both sides of the road connecting the airport with Raj Bhavan. He is likely to visit Shree Lingaraj temple in the city on Monday morning, sources said. The PM is scheduled to address two election rallies in Berhampur and Nabarangpur on Monday. Sarangi said Modi will again visit Odisha on May 10 and hold a road show here. He will address an election rally in Bolangir on May 11, she added. Modi arrived at the state capital hours after BJP president J P Nadda left the city after releasing the party's manifesto ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections to be held between May 13 and June 1.

BJP releases manifesto for Odisha polls, promises 350,000 jobs in 5 years

The BJP on Sunday released its manifesto for the assembly elections in Odisha, promising 3.5 lakh jobs in five years, cash voucher of Rs 50,000 for women, returning the money people lost by investing in chit fund companies, and procurement of paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal. The manifesto, titled 'Modi Ka Guarantee for Odisha 2024', was released by BJP president JP Nadda for the four-phase elections to Odisha's 147-member assembly, which will be held simultaneously with polls for the state's 21 Lok Sabha seats, starting on May 13. In the manifesto, the BJP promised 'Samrudh Krushak Niti', under which paddy will be procured at Rs 3,100 per quintal and the money will be credited to the bank accounts of farmers within 48 hours. If voted to power, the BJP said it will launch 'Subhadra Yojana' under which every woman will receive a cash voucher of Rs 50,000 which can be encashed over two years. "We will aim to create 25 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis' in Odisha by 2027. For this, we will create ...

Fiscal prudent Odisha faces many challenges on socioeconomic front

In last decade, it has consistently remained a revenue-surplus state, allowing govt to invest in asset generation, introduce welfare schemes. But its socio-economic indicators leave much to be desired

LS elections: 17 millionaire candidates in race for four seats in Odisha

17 crorepatis candidates in race for four LS seats in Odisha

One voter, two votes: How Kotia villagers navigate blurred border dispute

While Odisha provides essential services, such as schools, anganwadi centers, water supply points and employment guarantee, Andhra focuses on benefits, including 35 kg of rice compared to Odisha's 5kg

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Rahul Gandhi's Rayagada programme cancelled

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Rayagada in Odisha on Friday stands cancelled as he has rushed to Rae Bareli to file nomination papers from there, party sources said. Congress Koraput Lok Sabha constituency candidate and sitting MP Saptagiri Ulaka said preparations are on to make alternative arrangements. "Rahul Ji may address the people through virtual mode. However, it is not yet finalised," Ulaka said, adding that thousands of people have already arrived at the meeting venue. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) had earlier announced that Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Rayagada around noon and address the 'Nyaya Rally' near GIACR College. "Our leader Rahul Gandhi will not be able to attend the rally in Rayagada at noon as he is in Rae Bareli to file nomination papers. AICC general secretary Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar has arrived at the meeting venue. We are discussing what can be done now," OPCC president Sarat Pattnayak told reporters. OPCC campaign ...

BJD being run by bureaucrats, outsiders trying to capture Odisha: Pradhan

Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal is facing public revolt for the first time and a caucus of "outsiders" in the chief minister's office wants to capture the state, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has claimed. The Education Minister, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Sambalpur, also dismissed the speculation that there were any attempts from BJP to enter into an alliance with the BJD. In an interview with PTI, Pradhan, who is returning to the electoral fray after 15 years, said, "the Odia identity is under threat and this election is all about that identity." "BJD is being run by a group of bureaucrats...the caucus in the chief minister's office which has few non-Oriya officers, they all came together and thought let's exploit the inability of the chief minister, let's create a vacuum from back door and their intention is to capture the state. "This is a very dangerous trend and this is what public is angry about besides their inaction on the ground," Prad

LS polls: Odisha CM Patnaik files nomination from Kantabanji Assembly seat

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday filed his nomination papers from Kantabanji assembly segment under Bolangir parliamentary constituency in the state's western region, two days after he filed his papers from his traditional Hinjili seat in Ganjam district. After reaching Tushra Airstrip, Patnaik led a procession to the sub-collector's office at Titlagarh and filed papers in the presence of BJD leader and his schoolmate AU Singhdeo and party leader V K Pandian. Patnaik chose Kantabanji as the second seat as it is strategically located and connected to three Lok Sabha seats such as Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Bargarh. These three LS seats were won by the opposition BJP in the 2019 elections. BJD insiders feel that Patnaik decision to contest from Kantabanji will have a significant impact to raise BJD's stake in the region, particularly in Bolangir district. Kantabanji seat was last won by Congress candidate SS Saluja. Even in the 2019 elections, Patnaik

DRDO successfully tests long-range 'SMART' anti-submarine missile system

SMART is equipped with an advanced lightweight torpedo as its payload, delivered via a parachute-based release system to aid Indian navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities

Lok Sabha polls 2024: After Nadda, PM Modi to campaign in Odisha on May 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to campaign for the BJP candidates in Odisha's Berhampur and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies on May 6, a leader of the saffron party said on Wednesday. Modi will address his first public meeting at 10 am in Berhampur while the Nabarangpur rally will be held at about 12.30 am on Monday, Odisha BJP vice-president Golak Mohapatra told a press conference here. Berhampur and Nabarangpur go to polls on May 13. The Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha. Berhampur in Ganjam district is considered a fort of the ruling BJD headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The BJP has fielded expelled Biju Janta Dal MLA Pradeep Panigrahy in Berhampur Lok Sabha seat while the BJD nominee there is Bhrugu Baxipatra, a former BJP vice-president. The Congress has fielded Rasmiranjan Patnaik from the seat. Modi recently claimed in an interview that Odisha's pride and language are in danger. The Prime Minister is coming to Odis

BJD, BJP, Cong claims credit for Kalahandi's development; field new faces

Once infamous for drought and starvation deaths during the 1980s, the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency in western Odisha seems to have undergone a remarkable transformation, with political parties across the board claiming credit for its development. It appears that the operationalisation of the Indravati Irrigation project and schemes like the Revised Long-Term Action Plan (RLTAP) worked wonders for the region. While the BJD, BJP and Congress promise further development in the area if voters elect their candidate, all three parties have fielded fresh faces for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in consideration of the fact that Kalahandi chose a new MP in each of the last three parliamentary polls. In the 2009 general elections, Bhakta Charan Das of Congress had won from the Kalahandi seat, while Arka Keshari Deo of BJD and Basant Kumar Panda of BJP won the subsequent editions of the polls in 2014 and 2019 respectively. The BJD has chosen Lambodar Nial, the BJP named Malavika Keshari

It'll be a vote for Modi's performance, Odia pride: Dharmendra Pradhan

Pradhan talks about the NDA securing over 400 seats, the Narendra Modi government's alternative energy initiatives, and unemployment issue

Odisha declares summer vacation for schools as heatwave grips states

IMD predicts heatwave conditions in Odisha, Bengal, and Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh until April 26; possibility of light rainfall in eastern states

Intense heatwave grips India with temp between 40 to 46 degrees Celsius

A searing heatwave gripped parts of India on Saturday, with maximum temperatures ranging from 40 degrees Celsius to 46 degrees Celsius in many areas. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Gangetic West Bengal during the day. This ongoing heatwave affecting parts of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal is the second heatwave spell this month. The first spell scorched parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. On Saturday, maximum temperatures at some places were recorded seven to eight degrees above normal. Baripada and Boudh in Odisha recorded a maximum temperature of 45.2 degrees Celsius, Midnapore and Bankura in West Bengal recorded 44.5 degrees Celsius and 44.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. Daltonganj and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand registered 43.6 degrees Celsius and 43.5 degrees Celsius, respectively, while Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh reported 43 ...