Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programme at Chandikhole in Odisha’s Jajpur district on Tuesday, official sources said.
Naveen’s presence at Modi’s event on a day that marks the birth anniversary of legendary leader Biju Patnaik, in whose memory BJD was founded, could further fuel speculation on possible pre-poll alliance between BJD and BJP. There is also speculation that Modi may announce Bharat Ratna, nation’s highest civilian award, to the legendary Biju Patnaik during this visit.
The simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state are slated for April. Both BJP and BJD had earlier rubbished the alliance talks as rumours.
The two leaders had last met during the inauguration of the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur on February 3 and speculation of the possible electoral tie-up was amplified when PM Modi referred to Naveen as his “Mitra” (friend). ‘CM and my mitra Shriman Naveen Patnaik ji’.
In response, Naveen Patnaik lauded Modi for India’s economic strides, emphasising the PM’s role in steering the country towards becoming an economic powerhouse. “Honourable PM has set a new direction for India. We are on the path to become a economic powerhouse.”
PM Modi also refrained from attacking Naveen or BJD while later addressing a public meeting at Remed Ground in Sambalpur.
Despite the perceived rivalry between BJP and BJD in the state, the central leadership has maintained a more conciliatory tone that gives a sense of closeness between the two.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport here in the afternoon. He will then proceed to Chandikhole in an IAF helicopter and lay foundation stones and inaugurate multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore around 3.30 pm.
PROJECTS TO BE INAUGURATED
IOCL’s mono ethylene glycol project in Paradip refinery
0.6 MMTPA LPG import facility at Paradip
Five MLD capacity seawater desalination plants at Odisha Sands Complex of IREL(I) Ltd
CONCOR container depot in Kalinga Nagar
New train between Puri and Anand Vihar (New Delhi) via Kendujhargarh station and first passenger train service on Haridaspur – Paradip rail route
The Prime Minister will also address a public meeting at Benapur in Jajpur district. A temporary helipad has also been constructed at Benapur.
Inspector General of police, central range, Ashish Singh said, “For PM Narendra Modi’s visit, we have conducted a briefing with over 3000 police personnel. The area will be under security cover with different verticals of officials engaged in different duties.”
Though there is no official programme in Bhubaneswar, Twin City Commissioner of Police Sanjeeb Panda said a special route lining up to Raj Bhawan and carcade will be done as per a contingency measure. “As many as 6 Additional DCPs, 10 ACPs, 19 Inspectors, 69 other officers, and 15 platoons of police force will be pressed into service for the Prime Minister’s visit,” he added.
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