Pranab to unveil Biju Babu's pictorial biography on Jan 27

Bhubaneswar: Former president Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit the State on January 27 to release a pictorial biography of veteran leader and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik here.

Besides, senior BJP leader LK Advani, Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and senior leaders of a few opposition parties will attend the event.

The photo biography contributed by the Biju Patnaik Centenary Commitee encapsulates rare photographs of Biju Babu’s life. A communique from Pranab Mukherjee's office has confirmed his attendance for the event. Sources said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will leave for Bengaluru on January 14 to invite Deve Gowda for the programme.

Meanwhile, the upcoming event has escalated into a political debate in the State. Talks are doing the rounds that the ruling BJD is trying to show off its authority using Biju Babu’s charisma by inviting Opposition leaders in the Centre whereas Opposition parties in the State termed it as a strategy for the upcomming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.