Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik will hold a mega rally in Delhi today over a demand for granting central special status for his state.
Around 15,000 activists and party workers are expected to attend the rally at the Ramlila Maidan.
"We are having a rally in Ramlila Maidan today for our demand of special category status for Odisha," Patnaik said.
Patnaik had earlier said his resource-rich state deserved an increase in the minerals royalty and the Centre, due to 'political reasons', had ignored the legitimate demands of the state.
According to television reports, Patnaik has gathered a delegation of 30, comprising his ministers, MPs and MLAs, who will meet President Pranab Mukherjee after the rally at Ramlila Ground and submit a petition signed by one crore people from Orissa.
In March, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also held a rally in Delhi demanding special status for his state.
In the rally attended by thousands, Kumar had given the central government a tough warning that no political combination should think of ruling Delhi after the 2014 elections if it ignored Bihar's rights.