News from Bhubaneswar

Senior BJD leader and Ghasipura MLA Badri Narayan Patra stirred political debate by openly criticising his party’s leadership. Accusing top leaders of disconnecting from grassroots workers, Patra blamed internal power struggles and poor decision-making for BJD’s electoral setbacks. His remarks underline growing dissent within the party following its 2024 General Election debacle.

Former BJD MP from Puri, Pinaki Mishra, has come under the scanner following a series of serious allegations, including financial irregularities, money laundering, and raising sensitive questions in Parliament linked to national security.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi released financial aid of Rs 1,041 crore to more than 51 lakh farmers under the CM Kisan Yojana on Wednesday, a day before the agrarian festival Nuakhai.

The capital city Bhubaneswar has donned a festive look with dazzling Puja pandals and artistically crafted gates on the occasion of Ganesh Puja on Wednesday.

The Odisha government has unveiled a major infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting rural connectivity in disaster-prone areas of the State. 

The Odisha government has issued a notification allowing changes in administrative boundaries across the state ahead of the upcoming Census 2027. 

Odisha has received Rs 240.81 crore as the first installment of the Fifteenth Finance Commission’s untied grant for rural local bodies for the financial year 2025-26. The state is among three recipients, along with Mizoram and Tripura, to get the release in this phase.

Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday apprehended Sarita Barik, OFS-I, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, Bhubaneswar-IV Circle while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a bakery shop owner.

The Odisha government has effected a major reshuffle in the state administration with the transfer and posting of several senior OAS officers, as per a notification issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department on Tuesday.

A new book by journalist Ruben Banerjee reveals late Gita Mehta’s alleged concerns about VK Pandian’s influence on her brother, former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. The revelation has sparked internal unrest in the BJD, with debates over Sujata R. Karthikeyan’s unofficial role, leadership ambitions, and rising discontent among senior leaders after the party’s recent electoral defeat.

In a strategic cultural push, the Odisha government will introduce a heritage policy to protect over 3,000 historic monuments. Chaired by Deputy CM Pravati Parida, a high-level meeting decided on forming a task force and prioritising 75 key sites. The initiative aims to preserve Odisha’s heritage while enhancing tourism infrastructure and restoring lost artefacts across ancient locations.

In a bid to make governance more people-oriented, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday launched a new initiative called ‘Ama Shasana’ at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha is preparing for a sweeping aviation infrastructure expansion, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announcing the development of 14 new airports and 15 heliports across the state. A new progressive land allotment policy for aviation facilities will also be rolled out to encourage flying training, UAV operations, and aero sports.

The Odisha revenue employees’ association called of its agitation after 15 days, following assurances from the state government on Tuesday.

Odisha is bracing for another spell of heavy rainfall as a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal within the next 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted on Tuesday.