Bhubaneswar: Five visits since the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government assumed office over seven months ago. The frequency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trips to Odisha has made it evidently clear that he has his eyes on the state, raising the obvious question: What could be the plausible reasons behind his decision to accord top priority to this eastern state?
Here’s why:
1. Odisha has huge mineral deposits, land resources, water sources, long coastline, infrastructure etc.
“Odisha has water, fertile land, minerals, a long coastline, history, culture, God has given so much. But why are the people of Odisha poor?” PM Modi had asked while campaigning for BJP ahead of the twin polls in May 2024. He reiterated Odisha’s huge potential to become a developed state, having been bestowed with talent, manpower, natural resources, opportunities for industries and immense possibilities of tourism in the subsequent trips to the state.
While inaugurating Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, Modi again stressed that Odisha was set to become one of the top states in the country in terms of the blue economy.
The 574.7 km coastline is strategically positioned to tap into the vast potential of the port-led blue economy with focus on marine biodiversity & conservation, aquaculture & fisheries, marine bioproducts and environmental sustainability.
He noted that there were huge industrial hubs, ports, trade hubs in Eastern India and Odisha’s participation in this was remarkable. “Odisha used to be an important centre in South Eastern Asian trade and the ports were a gateway to India”, he said.
Quoting President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto’s remark while talking about his connection with India, the Prime Minister said Subianto probably meant that he had traces of Odisha in his DNA.
He also emphasised the need to explore Odisha’s tourism potential, with its 480-km coastline, over 33% forest cover, and endless possibilities for eco-tourism and adventure tourism.
Modi added the government was working to ensure that industries related to the resources in Odisha are established within the state.
2. Odisha is key to achieving India’s aspiration of becoming a five trillion USD economy and third largest economy in the world and Vikshit Bharat by 2047.
Since assuming power, the Mohan Majhi government has been making efforts to position the state as a modern hub of industrial and economic activity. Utkarsh Odisha, where it is hopeful of attracting investments worth Rs 5 lakh crore, is said to be a key step in achieving the vision of Vikshit Odisha 2036 while contributing to the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat 2047 and India’s industrial growth story.
The state government is looking forward to a large number of investments across employment-intensive sectors like textiles and apparel, IT/ITeS, shipbuilding and repair chemicals and petrochemicals, as well as new-age sectors like green fuels, green energy equipment manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, and data centres to establish Odisha among India’s top five economies.
Referring to Singapore President’s recent visit to Odisha, the PM also highlighted that ASEAN countries have also shown interest in strengthening trade and traditional connections with the state.
3. Politically, Odisha is currently most important for BJP in east and north-east India as it has got maximum electoral benefits from the state in 2024 polls. The ‘double engine’ government gives Modi & Co the opportunity to focus more on Odisha and accord it more priority ahead of some other states like West Bengal and Jharkhand where non-BJP parties are in power.
4. By making Odisha the ‘gateway of purvodaya’, Modi & Co want to not only give the eastern state a boost but also create investment and business opportunities for big industrial houses, which can help the BJP.
The ‘Purvodaya’ concept was first publicly aired by PM Modi during a meeting in Paradip in 2015, after he had dedicated a refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). He had said for India to be a developed country, the eastern parts of the country have to develop. To expedite growth in eastern India, the Centre is implementing a wide array of infrastructure projects such as construction of highways, establishment of water and power projects.
5. The BJP top leadership’s decision to make Mohan Charan Majhi’s the CM took most people by surprise as he was not considered a top contender. But the saffron party bosses played the tribal card by choosing Majhi, who is a Santhal from mineral-rich Keonjhar district. The BJP government’s performance in Odisha is constantly being compared to the BJD government, which was in power for 24 years till 2024; CM Majhi is also being compared with his predecessor Naveen Patnaik. The BJP cannot afford to fail in public perception as panchayat and municipal elections are scheduled in 2027 and any complacency will allow BJD to bounce back. Ergo, Modi of late is himself batting for Majhi and Odisha to give the government and party agendas a strong push.
