Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today moved a notice seeking the Speaker's permission for passage of a resolution in the Assembly demanding special category status for Odisha following an uproar over the issue in the House.
The ruling BJD's action came as the opposition Congress disrupted proceedings of the House for the entire day demanding a debate on the state's demand for special category status.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das said the House could take up the chief minister's notice on April 4.
The BJD also issued a whip to its members to be present in the House on April 3 and April 4.
The opposition Congress claimed that its Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan had already moved a similar notice for a resolution in the House on March 14.
"Though my notice was admitted, the Speaker is yet to take any decision on it. The chief minister's notice is only an afterthought," Harichandan said.
Das, however, claimed that the chief minister had earlier decided to move such a notice but could not do so because the House was debating budget demands of different departments.
Das also claimed that the BJD government was trying its best to obtain special category state status.
"Getting special category state status for Odisha was part of our election manifesto," he said blaming the Congress led UPA government for ignoring the state's interests.
