Bhubaneswar: BJD president Naveen Patnaik was on Friday unanimously elected chairperson of BJD parliamentary party by Rajya Sabha members of the party. Earlier, no one from the party held such a post, party sources said. The parliamentary party meeting has been held ahead of budget session of parliament. This time, BJD does not have a single MP in the Lok Sabha.
Naveen has directed the MPs to play role of a strong opposition as they have been doing and continue to aggressively to counter BJP-led govt at the Centre on issues concerning Odisha’s interest in parliament.
“He has advised the MPs to take up issues pertaining to demand of special category state for Odisha, revision of coal royalty, poor condition of national highways, demand for rural housing, establishment of more Kendriya Vidyalayas and Ekalvya Vidayalayas in each block and AIIMS hospitals in Sambalpur, Koraput and Balasore (no satellite units),” a party spokesperson said.
Naveen also told MPs to raise issues such as setting up of IT, MSME, textile and semi-conductor parks and industrial corridors in the state to generate employment for youths. Party sources said Naveen also advised them to take up matters of tribal development, women’s empowerment, among others.

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