Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Majhi left for Delhi on Thursday evening and is scheduled to travel to Jaisalmer to attend a pre-budget discussion with Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, govt officials said.
Sitharaman is scheduled to chair a meeting of state finance ministers before the presentation of the Union budget for 2025-26. The Odisha CM, who also holds the finance portfolio, will attend the meeting to present Odisha’s aspirations before the Union finance minister, sources said.
The CM is expected to put forth the state’s demands to fulfil BJP’s election manifesto promises, such as a second AIIMS in Sambalpur, besides a second Central University in Odisha. In its manifesto for Odisha, BJP promised a second AIIMS in Sambalpur. Besides, the party promised to pursue the Centre to upgrade Sambalpur University into a central university.
Since Bihar and Andhra Pradesh received special financial packages in the last budget for 2024-2025, Odisha may also press for a special package for disaster-resilient infrastructure in the state, keeping in mind the state’s vulnerability to natural disasters. Besides, the state may push for greater tele-density and a wider rail and road network, govt sources said. Odisha may also push for a larger share in mining revenue.
Majhi is scheduled to return to Delhi from Rajasthan on Saturday evening. The CM will stay in Delhi until Monday and meet several Union ministers to address the state’s issues with various departments during his stay in the national capital.