Elections over, Yet PM Modi Is Visiting Odisha Frequently

It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third visit. This time it was a 3-day visit to attend among other things All India Conference of DGP / IGP’s, CRPF, Chiefs of RAW, NSG, SPG at Bhubaneswar to discuss security and law enforcement issues in the country. PM Modi who spent three days at Bhubaneswar had multiple engagements including dinner with state BJP members. According to source, Modi is expected to visit Odisha again on January 8 and January 28, 2025, marking his fourth and fifth visit to inaugurate Pravasuli Bharatiya Divas and attend the Make in Odisha Enclave. In the past no other PM has given the state so much importance. According to Odisha Law Minister Harichandan BJP’s plan is to make Odisha the growth engine of Eastern India. But Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Lok Sabha MP Sasmit Patra is not convinced and his party has decided to go on aggressive mode. He asks why Odisha has not been given special status like Andhra Pradesh. Patra said, BJD will raise four issues. One, AP’s Polavaram dam project which will submerge thousands of acres of land in Odisha Malkangiri district displacing 6,000 tribals. Two, BJD will pursue what progress the BJP government has made to settle the Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh. Three, it will demand the opening of AIIMS at Balasore, Sambalpur, Koraput. Four, BJD will also push for withdrawal of GST on kendu leaves and inclusion of Ho, Mundari, Bhumji,Kui and Saora language in the 8th schedule of the constitution. Looks like Naveen Patnaik’s BJD is going full blast to unnerve BJP.