Odisha: BJD foundation day silver jubilee fete in Puri tomorrow

Priya Ranjan Swain Published On : Dec 25, 2022 at 6:47 PM

Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha is all set to observe its foundation day silver jubilee function in a grand manner in the holy city of Puri tomorrow (December 26).

The regional party was unable to celebrate its 25^th foundation day properly last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, the party has decided to organize a grand ceremony in Puri on Monday to celebrate its 25^th foundation day, said a party leader.

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The office-bearers of BJD’s state, district and block units, MPs, MLAs and other elected representatives will participate in the meeting in Puri. BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to address the gathering, sources said.

The party has decided to celebrate its foundation day silver jubilee function in a phased manner in all 147 Assembly segments, sources added.

Notably, the BJD was founded on December 26, 1997. The regional party in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to the power in Odisha in 2000 Assembly elections. The alliance retained power in 2004 Assembly elections in the state.

The regional party was able to form government in Odisha on its own in 2009 Assembly elections after parting ways with the BJP in the aftermath of Kandhamal riots in 2008. The BJD managed to retain power in Odisha in 2014 and 2019 Assembly elections.

The main Opposition BJP, meanwhile, has decided to hold statewide Satyagraha on Monday to protest against the alleged criminalization of politics and violence against women in Odisha.