In a letter to Patnaik, Pradhan said the eight districts of Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Bolangir, Koraput and Malkangiri should be included in the list of 115 backward districts of the country.
"Odisha of the 21st century should be built as a pioneering state by rising above political considerations," the Union Petroleum Minister said.
Political differences should not come in the way of efforts aimed at development and welfare of common people, youths, women, Dalits, backward communities and tribals, the BJP leader, who hails from Odisha's Angul district, said.
The Prime Minister is of the view that the dream of a developed India cannot become a reality without developing the eastern region of the country, he said, adding that Odisha has a prominent role in this vision.
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"Therefore, we should start this mass movement in 2018. It is our responsibility and duty to build a new India and a new Odisha by 2022," he said in the letter.
The BJD, in its response, said the state government will consider Pradhan's suggestions.
Pradhan is a Union minister and his suggestion will be examined by the state government, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra.
The Odisha government had recently opposed the Centre's action of appointing IAS officers as Prabhari (in-charge) officers in eight most-backward districts of the state for addressing the developmental needs of the people there.
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