Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) celebrated its 25th foundation day in Odisha. The day was marked by celebrations at district and block levels.
Senior party leaders and members of women, youth, and student wings participated in functions in various towns. The events were also attended by panchayat presidents, block coordinators, zone coordinators, zone committee, and panchayat committee members.
Starting his term in 2000, Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik has been serving as the state’s chief minister for more than two decades now. The 72-year old leader founded the BJD in 1997, a year after the demise of his father, following the split of Janata Dal.
In a virtual address on the occasion, Patnaik stated that the party is accountable to the people of Odisha, who have turned the party into a social movement. “Behind the success of BJD was the dream of the people for a prosperous and strong Odisha. The party will work for the next 100 years with the support of all residents of the state,” he said.
The BJD chief lauded the party, which is in power in the state since 2000, saying that it has successfully managed natural calamities like cyclones. “Odisha leads the country in disaster management, and has even been praised by United Nations and Niti Ayog among others for its exemplary work,” the Odisha CM said.
Patnaik aims to reduce Odisha’s poverty to 10%
Patnaik also highlighted his government’s successes mentioning that the state has undergone a sea of change since 2000 and the poverty rate of the state has come down from 63 per cent to 29 per cent and over 80 lakh people have been brought above the poverty line.
“Odisha will create history by further reducing the poverty rate to 10 per cent in the next five years. Our government will take all measures to achieve the goal,” he said.
The Odisha chief minister further stressed the role of 5Ts (Transparency, Technology, Teamwork, Time and Transformation) of his government and said that this formula is taking every sector, from education to farming, to new heights.
