 "Naveen Patnaik brings demand for special status to Odisha at Centre's doorstep")
The BJD held a Swabhiman Samabesh at the Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday. The rally was a culmination of its Swabhiman Yatra. The BJD said its campaign had managed to get the support of 10 million signatories.
It added that despite making rapid progress on many fronts, Odisha still did not fare well on many socio-economic indicators. However, the Planning Commission recently rejected its demand; therefore, according to BJD Member of Parliament Baijayant Panda, the need to take the demand at the Centre’s doorstep.
The Centre announced it was in the process of reassessing the criteria for grant of special category status to states. It was on Tuesday Patnaik said he supported a third front, an alliance of non- Congress and non-Bharatiya Janata Party forces.