Page 2 - Naveen Patnaik

LS polls: Temple narrative not a guarantee for victory in Odisha elections

Voters in Puri, Sambalpur say local issues, poll dynamics matter

LS polls: Opposition remembers people only during elections, says Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday alleged that his opponents remember the people of the state only during elections and have no sincerity towards them. Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Bhawanipatna and Khariar in the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency, Patnaik claimed that they disappeared after the elections. "Leaders of the opposition party tell lies to the people and shed crocodile tears during elections. They are only seen during elections and then they disappear," he said. He asked the people if his government's social welfare schemes were helping them, to which they responded with a loud "yes". Urging the people to vote for candidates of his party in the twin polls, he said, "Please bless Naveen Patnaik and vote twice on the conch symbol, one for the MP and another for the MLA." The chief minister was accompanied by his close aide VK Pandian, who claimed that Patnaik will take oath as the chief minister for the sixth time on June 9. He also criticised

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 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

LS polls: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to contest from two Assembly seats

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will also contest from Kantabanji assembly constituency in Bolangir district of Western Odisha along with his traditional Hinjili seat in Ganjam district. This was announced by Patnaik himself on Wednesday while releasing the 5th list of nine candidates for the Assembly elections in the state. Patnaik in 2019 assembly elections had also contested from two seats. He won from both Hinjili and Bijepur assembly segment in Bargarh district of western Odisha. However, Patnaik later resigned from Bijepur and retained the Hinjili seat. The nine BJD candidates announced by Patnaik included six women and four turncoats. The party has dropped four sitting MLAs - Purna Chandra Baka (Chitrakonda), Kishore Chandra Naik (Kuchinda), Rajnikant Singh (Angul) and Samir Ranjan Dash (Nimapara).. Patnaik has also rewarded four turncoats and nominated them to contest the assembly polls. They were: Arundhati Devi (Deogarh), Dillip Kumar Nayak (Nimapar

LS polls: Patnaik seeks public opinion for preparing BJD's poll manifesto

Odisha Chief Minister and ruling BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged people to provide inputs for preparation of the party's manifesto for the simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the state. Patnaik also constituted a 38-member 'manifesto committee' headed by Berhampur MP Chandrasekhar Sahu. The panel will have discussions with various sections of society... and prepare a manifesto that will lead to transformation towards a New Odisha, Empowered Odisha', Patnaik said in an official notification. Senior party leader Amar Patnaik was appointed as convenor of the committee, while Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra will be the co-convenor, officials said. General elections and assembly polls will be held in Odisha between May 13 and June 1. The state has 147 assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Biju Janata Dal gets the lion's share of non-metro electoral bonds

The BJD received a total of Rs 944.5 crore. This includes Rs 213.5 crore in 2018-19, Rs 50.5 crore in 2019-20, and Rs 67 crore in 2020-21

Around 1,300 youths join government service in Odisha: CM Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday highlighted his government's dedication to enacting transformative changes in the lives of people and underscored the primacy of public welfare in his governance approach. The CM said this while gracing a function where 1,294 people were recruited for government jobs. He said the new employees should work with all their sincerity and commitment to serve the people. Of the 1,294 people who joined the state government, 725 were accommodated in the school & mass education department, 280 joined the finance department and 129 were recruited in the rural development department. Welcoming the officials, Patnaik said this is a huge achievement in our endeavour to accelerate the process of recruitment for filling up vacancies in the government. He expressed joy over the appointment of numerous outstanding sportspersons, noting that their inclusion would serve as a source of inspiration for budding talents in the sporting arena. Stating that

Odisha govt approves seven key projects with Rs 80,125 crore investment

The Odisha government has approved seven key projects with an investment of Rs 80,125 crore in different sectors, an official said. The projects received the state government's nod at a High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday. These investments are expected to create job opportunities for 24,552 people in various sectors, including steel, green energy, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, the official said. These projects are spread over Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, and Bhadrak districts, he said. Granules Life Sciences Private Limited, a leading producer of paracetamol in India, has proposed to set up its pharmaceutical unit at Tata SEZ, Gopalpur in Ganjam district. The company aims to produce 4 billion units of paracetamol, metformin, ibuprofen and other pharma products, for which it will pump in Rs 1,100 crore in the Ganjam plant, generating jobs for around 1,500 people. Granules CZRO Private Limited will also

15 years after severing ties, Naveen Patnaik's BJD set to return to NDA

For the BJP, a formal alliance with BJD will not only improve morale but also provide a huge boost to the saffron party's goal of 370 Lok Sabha seats and 400-plus for the NDA

Why are the BJD and BJP joining forces against Congress in Odisha

The alliance is likely to be formally announced soon. It will mark a return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of one of its original constituents

Deciphering Naveen Patnaik: What is Odisha CM's political grammar?

The Odisha CM was once seen as the quintessential outsider, partly because of his struggle with the Odia language. Now he stands on the cusp of history

Gates meets Odisha CM, discusses tech-driven farmer empowerment initiatives

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence here and discussed technology-driven farmer empowerment initiatives. Gates, who arrived here on Tuesday, held discussions with the chief minister about various state government initiatives. "Pleasure meeting @Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Mr @BillGates. Had a wonderful discussion on our technology-driven farmer empowerment initiatives, several welfare initiatives like #JagaMission, #MissionShakti, #OdishaSchoolTransformation, #BSKY and healthcare transformation," Patnaik said on X. He appreciated the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for supporting innovation in extending inclusive benefits to the people. "Thanked him for his praise for Odisha's welfare initiatives and success in different sectors through #5T transformative governance," he added. In the morning, he visited a slum in Bhubaneswar and interacted with the residents. He visited the Biju Adarsh Colony in the Maa ...

Kalyani Steels signs MoU with Odisha govt to set up manufacturing unit

Kalyani Steel Ltd on Friday signed an MoU with the Odisha government to set up a manufacturing facility with an investment of Rs 11,750 crore. The project for manufacturing titanium metal, aerospace and automotive components and advanced speciality steel at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district will create 10,000 job opportunities, the company said in a statement. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the collaboration will harness opportunities for the state to emerge as a high-skill job creator. By welcoming Kalyani Steels' project, including a titanium metal and alloy mill, an aerospace components facility, and an integrated automotive component unit, Odisha marks its grand entry into a highly advanced and precision manufacturing sector," he said. Patnaik also said the project is a "perfect match for our aspirations for creating an ecosystem conducive to new-age industries". The chief minister also said the project would catalyze the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),

Patnaik lays foundation stone for Rs 3,000 cr textile facility in Cuttack

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 3,000-crore Welspun Group's Integrated Textiles Manufacturing Facility and Warehousing Complex at Choudwar in Cuttack district. The proposed complex is expected to create employment for over 10,000 people in and around Choudwar region. Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said once the complex comes up, Choudwar will get back its glory of being the textile hub of Odisha. "Choudwar was developed as an industrial hub by former chief minister Biju Patnaik in the 1950s. Today, once again, a new history has been created in Choudwar," Patnaik said. The CM also informed that cotton farmers in the districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir, Rayagada and Gajapati will benefit from the complex, which will also provide employment opportunities for women. "Women will be provided skill training," he said. The state industrial department and Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) had given a ...

Lightning strikes claimed 1,472 lives in state in 5 years: Odisha minister

Lightning strikes have claimed 1,472 lives and left 145 people injured in Odisha in the last five years, state Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi told the Odisha assembly on Wednesday. Replying to a query by Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the minister said the state government had declared lightning as a disaster in June 2015. An ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each has been paid to the next of kin of those killed in lightning strikes in accordance with state disaster response fund guidelines, he said. Similarly, a compensation of Rs 2.50 lakh is being provided to any person in case he or she loses an eye (s) or any other organ leading to a disability of more than 60 per cent due to a lightning strike, he added. If the disability is between 40 per cent and 60 per cent, the compensation amount is Rs 74,000, he said. The government has also made a provision for a compensation of Rs 16,000 if a person requires hospitalisation for more than a week due to a lightning ...

Odisha has created new history in all areas of development, says CM Patnaik

Odisha is on the path of transformation. In the last twenty years, the state has created new history in all areas of development, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday

Patnaik lays foundation stone for in-stream storage project in 13 districts

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday laid the foundation stone for 19 in-stream storage structures worth Rs 4,600 crore in 13 districts of the state. Besides becoming a major tool for flood control management, the structures will help in drinking water supply, fish farming, animal husbandry, and increase the groundwater level and balance the environment, Patnaik said. The structures will be built in Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Khurda, Puri, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundergarh districts. Patnaik said such projects were very important for sustainable development. He said that in 2020, the plan for in-stream storage structures was prepared with an allocation of Rs 11,700 crore. So far, 72 such projects have been undertaken in three phases, he said, adding that no one will be displaced by it. The chief minister also spoke about the various measures taken by his government for the welfare of farmers. "Our programmes like Ka

With Jagannatha temple corridor, Naveen Patnaik's BJD looks to one-up BJP

With the grand unveiling of the Jagannatha heritage corridor, Naveen Patnaik plans to undercut any gains the BJP may have in Odisha because of the Ayodhya event

CM Naveen Patnaik launches sports projects worth Rs 120 crores in Sambalpur

Aligned with Chief Minister's vision, 'Sports for youth, youth for future', these projects have been undertaken under the 5T initiative to benefit people, especially youth of Sambalpur, release said