Bhubaneswar, Feb 29: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was Sunday formally declared elected as BJD President for the 7th consecutive term.
Announcing Patnaik’s election as the regional party’s chief, returning officer Pratap Keshari Deb said as many as 80 state executive members have also been elected with the completion of organisational poll process which had commenced in the last week of December.
The announcement of Patnaik’s election was a mere formality as he was the lone candidate to file nomination papers for the post.
Patnaik is the founder president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which came into being after the death of Biju Patnaik in 1997. The party’s organisational elections are held every three years.
Soon after the announcement of election results, Patnaik thanked the supporters and asked the ministers to guide the workers of the party.
Noting that BJD has become a powerful regional party, Patnaik said its significance in the national politics has also increased considerably.
The party’s most important strength is that it has won the trust and confidence of the people of Odisha, he said.
Describing Odisha’s prosperity and pride as BJD’s goal, Patnaik said the party’s battle against “historic negligence” towards the state has raised the faith of the people in BJD which aims at ensuring inclusive growth.
The ruling party has programmes for all sections of society starting from farmers to labourers, women, students, youths, tribals and dalits.
“It is due to the blessings of the people of my state and the wholehearted support of my party men that I have been discharging my duties sincerely as the president of the BJD. Your unstinting love and affection has given me enough strength to further strengthen my party in the coming days,” Patnaik told partymen who were present to congratulate him.
He said the BJD had not only emerged as one of the strongest regional parties in the country, but had also made its presence felt in national politics.
The prime objective of the BJD is to see Odisha as a self-esteemed and prosperous state. It is due to our relentless fight against the historical negligence by the Centre towards the state that the people have reposed their faith in the BJD, he said adding the developmental programmes undertaken by our government have won the hearts of the people of all sections starting from farmers to labourers, women, students, youths, tribals and the dalits.
Stating that the state is going to celebrate the birth centenary of the legendary leader Biju Patnaik and the 80th foundation day of Odisha this year, he sought the cooperation of the people to make the two events a grand success.
Besides, to commemorate the state’s centenary celebrations, we have come up with Vision Odisha-2036 for which we will try to give our best efforts for successful implementation of the programme,” Naveen said.
