Naveen Patnaik

In a programme yesterday, the chief minister interacted with the people of Khurda, Puri, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Balangir, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Mayurbhanj districts through video conferencing from the state secretariat.

We are pleased to have Japan as the country partner of the event. The partnership will provide a new impetus to the relations between Odisha and Japan, and open up varied sectors for collaboration.

The units, which were inaugurated by Patnaik through video-conferencing, include Grasim Industries Ltd's 33,000 mtpa caustic soda facility.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the start of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), an universal health coverage scheme, in the state.

Marking the Tree Plantation Day in the state, Patnaik said people from all walks of life will participate in the plantation drive.

Assembly polls in Odisha have been held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election since 2004.

The decision in this regard was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. The hospitals will be opened in 11 high priority districts under Odisha Health Service Investment policy-2016, officials said.

Odisha is hosting the men's hockey World Cup 2018 in November.

The ruling BJD, however, accused Pradhan of playing "cheap politics" by releasing his letter to media.

Though Patnaik did not attend the 4th Governing Council Meeting of the Niti Ayog held at New Delhi on Sunday, he apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the state's demands including that of special category status for it through a letter.

The chief of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which was in alliance with the BJP till 2009, added that he had not thought about aligning with any front.

"Biju Janata Dal maintains equal distance with both the BJP and the Congress," Naveen Patnaik said.

CM Patnaik's letter to the prime minister comes after the ministry, on November 10, 2017, issued an order to close down the regional office at Bhubaneswar with immediate effect.

Patnaik had congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP's victory in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections yesterday.

The 'Fish Pond Yojana' scheme was launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while inaugurating a workshop on 'Doubling of Farmer Income through Dairy and Allied Farming Practices' here.

Patnaik discussed road infrastructure issues and asked the Union minister to take urgent steps for early completion of National Highways in Odisha, an official release issued by the Chief Minister's Office said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday issued a direction to officials to provide electricity to all villages in Odisha by June, 2018.

Finance Minister S B Behera said "we have received the report from the fitment committee and the government is considering to implement the new pay scale for the employees soon."

The regional party had supported NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind in the presidential election, polling for which was held yesterday. However, Patnaik preferred to go with opposition parties this time.

"The GST will bring about comprehensive reform of the indirect tax regime in the country and a major financial reform to make India a single market," Patnaik said while addressing the legislators in the workshop on GST held ahead of the Odisha Assembly's special session tomorrow.