BJD has already got majority, says Naveen Patnaik and invites Modi to oath-taking ceremony

Odisha is voting both for the Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections.

Naveen said: “I invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the swearing-in ceremony.”

The chief minister said this in response to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark at the Bijay Sankalp Samabesh at Kendrapara yesterday that Naveen’s exit was almost certain as the Odisha people had already made up their mind to install double engine government both at the state and also at the Centre.”

Modi finished his electioneering in Odisha yesterday and said he would visit the state when the new BJP government was formed.

Addressing a series of election meetings at Bhograi, Jaleswar, Basta, Nilgiri and Remuna in Balasore district, Naveen Patnaik said after the third phase of election that the BJD had already secured a majority.

"I humbly invite the Prime Minister to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the BJD government,” he said.

The BJD supremo said the BJP leaders had no concern for Odisha but were only shedding crocodile tears during the election.

Without taking any name, Mr Patnaik said a leader from Odisha was standing on the way of the development of the state.

The leader, he said, had created hurdles during the commissioning of medical college and for the implementation of the Aahar yojana (Rs 5 per meal for poor).

The chief minister also conducted road shows in the Balasore town to seek the people’s support for his party candidates.

Image credit: UNI