Naveen Patnaik Elected Unanimously As Chairperson Of BJD Parliamentary Party

Bhubaneswar: BJD president and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik was elected chairperson of the BJD parliamentary party on Friday.

Nine Rajya Sabha MPs of the party elected the former Chief Minister of Odisha unanimously at a meeting held at his residence, said MP Sasmit Patra said.

The BJD has no MPs in the Lok Sabha, so its representatives in  the Rajya Sabha will raise Odisha’s issues in the Parliament. The future strategies of the BJD during the upcoming budget session of the Parliament were discussed in this meeting.

The BJD president asked his party MPs to act as a strong opposition and counter the BJP-led Centre on matters concerning Odisha. He also urged them to demand special category status for the state.

The BJD Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to take up issues like slow progress of national highway and railway projects in Odisha, inadequate number of bank branches in the state, delay in revisions of coal royalty, demand for more Kendriya Vidyalayas and Ekalavya Schools etc.

The BJD will also push for immediate implementation of women’s reservation in Parliament and Assemblies.