BJD not part of any gathbandhan: Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik clarified to the media on Wednesday that his party BJD ‘is not a part of any gathbandhan’.

Patnaik gave the byte after attending the 15th Finance Commission meeting. A giant coalition or ‘gathbandhan’ by opposition parties has been creating a lot of news recently.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik was asked about his party’s role in the coalition. This was his reply:

“I also wish to clarify that as far as the mahagathbandhan is concerned, the Biju Janata Dal is not a part of it. We will continue with our policy of equidistance from both Congress and BJP”

When asked about the cabinet reshuffle after state Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy’s controversial resignation, he replied “No, there is not going to be any ministry reshuffle.”

Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday requested the Fifteenth Finance Commission to grant a special package of Rs 1,500 crore to build more cyclone shelters and improve disaster warning system in the state.

Patnaik also reiterated the demand of Special Category Status for Odisha before the Finance Commission in a meeting here in the State capital.

In a major move by the party, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik with his party leaders and workers had a grand public meeting/protest at New Delhi yesterday with a demand to increase the MSP of paddy.

Also Read: 15th Finance Commission In Odisha: CM Demands Rs 1,500 Cr For Disaster Management