Naveen Patnaik

The chief minister said the Biju Janata Dal strongly believed in the women empowerment, pointing out that his party had fielded women in one-third of seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The assurance was given by the chief minister when he met the Group's chairman Gautam Adani at the Naveen Niwas, Patnaik's residence here.

As part of the plan, facilities for pilgrims and tourists would be created on the 65 acres of the project around the temple and 11th-century tank, Bindu Sagar, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said on Monday.

As of now, Trinamool Congress, Congress, Janata Dal (United), BJD, AAP, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and TRS have opposed pan-India NRC.

"The amended Citizenship Act has nothing to do with Indians. It deals only with foreigners. The BJD MPs both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have made it clear that we do not support the NRC," Patnaik told reporters before leaving for the national capital.

"Odisha's transformative initiatives and policies have resulted in the sharpest drop in poverty, about 25 per cent, bringing millions out of poverty in last two decades," the chief minister said.

"My best wishes to all on the occasion of Ganesh Puja. I inaugurate the membership drive of our party," Patnaik said while addressing BJD activists at the programme held at the party headquarters here.

Mo College, which means my college, is a part of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s 5T action plan

Soon after the West Bengal rasgulla received its GI tag in 2017, there was a huge outcry in Odisha over the ownership of the delicacy.

Prafulla Kumar Mallik has retained works, steel and mines departments, while the crucial finance and excise department has been allocated to Niranjan Pujari, a prominent leader from western Odisha, the official said.

While the BJP has managed to gain in the state, it was far from its intended 'Mission 120' target in the Assembly polls.

Patnaik will take oath as the chief minister for fifth time in a row at 10.30 am on May 29.

Already the longest-serving chief minister of Odisha, having assumed office in the year 2000, Patnaik has weathered many a controversy--from chit fund scams to mining scandals-- but remained the foremost leader of the regional outfit he heads.

Under Naveen’s leadership, the BJD stormed to power in the 2000 Odisha Assembly polls. He assumed the chief minister’s position — something he continues to hold uninterrupted till date

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the package and included support for those dependant on animal husbandry, fisheries, handloom and handicraft.

The state is bracing for a severe cyclonic storm that is expected to cross its coast near Satapada in Puri district on May 3 afternoon with wind speed of 175-185 kmph.

The statement of Pradhan, also a Union minister, came hours after Patnaik accused the BJP led central government of contributing only 20 per cent of the cost of setting up two medical colleges in the state.

Addressing a rally in Balasore parliamentary seat, where election is scheduled to be held on April 29, Patnaik asserted that his party has secured adequate votes in the first three phases to form the next government in the state.

Patnaik was addressing several election meetings in Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur Lok Sabha segments where polling is scheduled to be held in the fourth phase on April 29.

The BJP's main agenda is "lies, violence and hooliganism", Patnaik, who is also the president of Biju Janta Dal (BJD), said while addressing a series of election meetings in Jagatsinghpur district.