Bhubaneswar: The 78th Capital Foundation Day celebration on Monday in Odisha capital was marked by a political exchange between Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi and Mayor Sulochana Das.
The event featured a vibrant torch procession from Lingaraj Temple to PMG Square, floral tributes at the foundation stone plaque in front of the Legislative Assembly building, a civil parade with 51 teams, cultural performances, and a special two-day photo exhibition at Jaydev Bhavan showcasing the city’s heritage and growth.
Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhi, who was the chief guest, described Bhubaneswar as the “face of the state” and urged collective efforts for its development. Mayor Sulochana Das called on citizens to preserve the city’s art, culture, and heritage while making it cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.
The celebrations, however, took on a political flavour when MP Aparajita Sarangi addressed past exclusion. She said: “As you all may know, during the reign of the previous government, I was not invited. However, today it is my privilege that the current government invited me. I extend my gratitude to all the members of all departments, and I would also like to thank the Bhubaneswar Mayor. I have an emotional attachment with Bhubaneswar. Every year on April 13, when Rajdhani Foundation Day is celebrated, I will definitely come and participate, no matter where I am.”
Mayor Sulochana Das responded by rejecting the claim, terming the remarks “very unfortunate”. “Ever since I took up the position of Mayor, invitations were sent to her every year and she was informed as well. However, she did not attend due to her work outside the city. Last year, I had informed her myself over the phone. We cannot be held responsible if she does not attend the programmes… Today is an auspicious day as we are celebrating the foundation day of Bhubaneswar. It is not appropriate to raise such issues on this occasion. She knows well that invitations are sent to her office every year. It has never happened that she was not invited,” she added.
Bhubaneswar, established as Odisha’s capital on April 13, 1948, has grown from a planned city of 40,000 to over 1.5 million residents and continues to develop as a key centre for education, healthcare, and urban infrastructure.
