Bhubaneswar, June 24: On Monday, a crucial meeting of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) parliamentary party was held at the residence of party president Naveen Patnaik. During the meeting, Patnaik instructed the nine BJD MPs in the Rajya Sabha to raise issues concerning Odisha more sharply and powerfully. The party also resolved to become a strong opposition voice in the Rajya Sabha.

This decision follows the recent general election, in which BJD, for the first time in its electoral history, failed to secure any representation in the Lok Sabha. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 20 out of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, while the Congress managed to retain the Koraput seat.

After the meeting, BJD MP Sasmit Patra spoke to the media, affirming the party's commitment to becoming a formidable opposition in the upper house of Parliament and advocating for Odisha's interests.

“We will emerge as a strong opposition party under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik in the Rajya Sabha. The people of Odisha will witness how BJD will raise its voice on each of the issues in a sharp and powerful manner on the floor of the house. The party president has directed us to raise different issues in the interest of Odisha, be it special category status for the state, national highway, railway, telecom, digital connectivity, banking, tribal development, youth, education, health,” Patra stated.

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