[Watch] Odisha CM Steps Into Odisha Assembly After A Gap Of One Year

Bhubaneswar: After almost a gap of one year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik entered the Odisha Assembly on Friday with the House congregating for the short Budget session of seven days.

The CM, who had attended the previous sessions through videoconference, arrived at the state assembly to attend the Governor’s address this morning. It was in February 2021 that he had last attended the House physically at the Governor’s address during the budget session.

Naveen also chaired a meeting of the ruling BJD legislators party on the Assembly premises. He advised the treasury bench members on how to face the challenges of the Opposition, which had announced to corner the government over the rise in poll-related violence and the alleged involvement of two ministers in cameraman Manas Swain’s kidnap-murder case.

“The government is prepared to debate on any issue raised by the opposition members. The party will also raise issues like central negligence towards Odisha and price rise of essential items and fuel,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister BK Arukha told mediapersons.

However, it is to be seen if Naveen attends the House on March 30-31 when Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari will present vote-on-account for the 2022-23 fiscal and table the Appropriation Bill respectively. The full budget could not be presented this time due to the panchayat and urban polls in the state.

Notably, the CM was earlier criticised for not physically attending his office and the state legislature despite touring different districts in recent months to launch the state-sponsored Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) smart health cards ahead of the three-tier panchayat elections. In December, the ruling dispensation drew flak when Naveen inaugurated a state-run restaurant here while the Winter Session of Assembly was on but did not show up in the House.