BHUBANESWAR: Naveen Patnaik‘s BJD signalled a departure Monday from its perceived pliancy towards BJP-led NDA in Parliament, with the party patriarch and former Odisha CM urging his Rajya Sabha members to function as “a strong and vibrant opposition” that would “make the Centre accountable on all issues”. “Be the voice of 4.5 crore people of Odisha in Parliament,” BJP quoted Naveen as saying at a parliamentary party meeting in preparation for the Rajya Sabha session starting June 27.“Many just and rightful demands of Odisha haven’t been met. We must ensure that those demands are met in right earnest by Centre,” said Naveen, whose party drew a blank in Lok Sabha polls and fell short of a sixth successive term in Odisha. BJD’s changed stance is seen as part of its renewed resolve to pursue its long-standing demand for special-category status to Odisha.
The party also intends to highlight the poor condition of national highways passing through Odisha and alleged delays in projects, including the Cuttack-Sambalpur Road, the proposed Coastal Highway, and the Odisha Capital Region Ring Road near Bhubaneswar. BJD also plans to seek a provision for at least 20 lakh houses under PM Awas Yojana, and Kendriya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Schools in each block of Odisha, especially in areas with tribal population. In sphere of healthcare, BJD will demand AIIMS campuses in Sambalpur, Koraput, and Balasore to cater to needs of Odisha’s northern, western, and southern regions, the party stated. Other demands include financial inclusion, 100% telecom connectivity across all panchayats, among others.