Nayak lashed out at the government for not allowing journalists to enter the secretariat. “The secretariat is not anybody’s parental property. Journalists will move outside the Assembly when it will be in session. What do you think of people? The secretariat is the property of 4.50 crore people. It is not the property of the coterie that has been hatching all conspiracies,” he added.
As the elections are drawing closer, the BJD is struggling with the problem of plenty in its Ekamra, Madhya and Uttar constituencies in Bhubaneswar. Parallel organizations by warring groups are giving indication of factionalism which could spell more trouble only after the announcement of nominees.
As per reports, a group of disgruntled workers and leaders held a meeting at Naripur on Saturday. The meeting was held at the residence of former minister Jugal Patnaik. A group of frontline leaders like Asit Patnaik and many other unhappy workers spoke against the legislator.
If sources are to be believed, the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah among others are likely to be announced in the first phase. A meeting of the Central Election Committee of the BJP is said to be held on February 29 to finalise the names. However, it is not clear if some candidates for Odisha will find a place in the list.
The Congress leader alleged, "Naveen Babu is misusing the officials in various works. Collectors are told to collect funds while police officials and superintendents of police are asked to arrest the BJD leaders who are going against the party. Even journalists are not spared ahead of the elections.”
BJP’s National Vice President and the election in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, Baijayant Panda participated in the meeting. Moreover, BJP’s Odisha in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and co-in-charge Lata Usendi among others attended the meeting which was inaugurated by the party’s National President, JP Nadda.
The locals alleged that in the absence of an all-weather road between Bhoipalli and Dhudipali panchayats, they have to commute on a forest track on a daily basis. The road passing through Bhoipalli, Kumbharuniposi, Budelkani, Bijaguda, Damagaon and Ladammal is in bad shape.
A couple of days ago, ED had summoned Archana and her husband Jagabandhu Chand for questioning. After coming out of the ED office Archana told the media that political leaders and administrative officers of Odisha who are involved in the case and who have used her as a medium to hide their own wrongdoings will be dragged to the court.
Speaking to the media, Manmohan Samal said, "The Prime Minister will first go to Puri to have darshan of Lord Jagannath and will later address a public meeting at Chandikhole. However, the exact date of his visit will be finalized soon.”
In the last 10 days, the Odisha government has announced financial incentives under 13 schemes and has also hiked pension allowances. It seems as if the government has loosened the purse strings ahead of the General Elections to woo voters.
At the Balikuda-Erasama constituency in Jagatsinhgpur, youth leader Sanjib Biswal, a ticket aspirant, organised a power show on the plea of a get-together against MLA Ragunandan Das. He even spoke openly against the MLA and asserted that he would win the poll by a huge margin if he is given a ticket.
The highest resource allocation has been proposed for the School & Mass Education department with a 9.71% share in total budget size for the financial year 2024-25.
During the Zero Hour, the senior Congress leader further demanded that the Odisha government should implement a pension scheme for the journalists like the provision made by other states.
However, the Minister further informed the House that the state government would take appropriate steps at the right time after reviewing the criteria and norms.
The BJP MLAs rushed to the well of the House and created ruckus over the issue on the third day of the Budget session of the Odisha Assembly. The members staged a demonstration by holding posters.
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