Bhubaneswar, March 4: The Centre on Thursday rejected Odisha’s demand for Special Category State status. BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha.
Mahatab demanded voting in the Lok Sabha where only 76 supported the demand by voice votes while 222 were against the demand.
Notably, BJD Parliamentary party meeting on February 21 had resolved to raise the issue during the budget session of the Parliament along with other issues.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also had urged Niti Ayog vice-chairman Aravind Panagariya to make a special consideration for granting Special Category status to Odisha.
