High Five: Naveen’s May 29 Swearing-In Will Have Pomp & Show

Bhubaneswar: Everything in Odisha is turning out to be a spectacle, growing in grandeur and scale. The sporting events, the elections and now, the swearing-in ceremony of BJD president Naveen Patnaik, who will assume office for a record fifth term on May 29.

This is for the first time that the ceremony will be held in the open. Naveen took the oath of office for the earlier four terms at Raj Bhawan. And when an event is going down in history, it assumes significance and here, grandness.

Two day later at 10.30 am, Governor Ganeshi Lal will administer oath of office to Naveen and his council of ministers at the Idco exhibition ground here, which was ostensibly picked to accommodate a large number of people.

If sources are to be believed, several top industrialists are expected to attend the ceremony. Naveen’s elder sister and noted writer Gita Mehta also features in the guest list.

Members of women self-help groups, a loyal vote bank of the BJD, will also be there to cheer Naveen.

Director General of Police (DGP) Dr RP Sharma along with Twin City Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty reviewed the security arrangements at the exhibition ground on Sunday.

The DGP said that around 5,000 people are expected at the event. “Our main objective is to provide security to all VVIPs. Governor, Chief Justice and several other dignitaries will be attending the programme. Along with the entire legislative assembly members, some special invitees will also be present,” he added.

Mohanty said that 35 platoon force will be deployed and CCTVs will be installed in 100ft circumference of the dais.