
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is expected to participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event in Chandikhole, located in Odisha’s Jajpur district, on Tuesday, according to official sources. Naveen’s attendance at Modi’s gathering on the birth anniversary of the revered leader Biju Patnaik, who founded the BJD party, may intensify speculations about a potential pre-election alliance between the BJD and BJP. Additionally, there is anticipation surrounding the possibility of Modi announcing the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian award, for the late Biju Patnaik during this occasion.
The state of Odisha is gearing up for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections scheduled for April. Despite earlier dismissals of alliance talks as rumors by both the BJP and BJD, speculation continues to swirl. The last encounter between the two leaders occurred during the inauguration of the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur on February 3, where PM Modi referred to Naveen as his “Mitra” (friend). In response, Naveen Patnaik commended Modi for India’s economic progress, highlighting the PM’s role in propelling the nation towards becoming an economic powerhouse.
PM Modi notably refrained from criticizing Naveen or the BJD during a subsequent public address at Remed Ground in Sambalpur. Despite the perceived rivalry between the BJP and BJD in the state, the central leadership has maintained a more conciliatory tone, hinting at a sense of camaraderie between the two parties.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister is set to arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport in the afternoon and proceed to Chandikhole via an IAF helicopter. There, he will lay foundation stones and inaugurate multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore around 3:30 pm. Among the projects to be inaugurated are IOCL’s mono ethylene glycol project in Paradip refinery, a 0.6 MMTPA LPG import facility at Paradip, and a five MLD capacity seawater desalination plant at Odisha Sands Complex of IREL(I) Ltd, among others.
Additionally, PM Modi will address a public meeting at Benapur in Jajpur district, with a temporary helipad constructed for the occasion. Security preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit are extensive, with over 3000 police personnel briefed and deployed for the event. Despite no official program in Bhubaneswar, a special route has been arranged, and a sizable police force will be mobilized to ensure security along the Prime Minister’s route.