Samikhsya Bureau
Once election animus over it is time for ceremonies in Odisha and setting aside all bitterness, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has formally invited the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present at the swearing in ceremony on May 29 when Patnaik shall be taking oath as the fifth time chief minister.
Reliable sources in the Biju Janata Dal said that a letter in this regard from the chief minister was personally handed over to the Prime Minister inviting him to grace the occasion.
During the campaign heat both Modi and Patnaik had traded barbs against each other over the issue. While Patnaik had opined that Modi should not get a second chance, Modi had fired back to say that Patnaik’s days in Odisha were over. Responding to the PM, Patnaik left a tongue-in-cheek jibe, saying that the PM stands invited to Odisha for the swearing in ceremony.
After the Biju Janata Dal came back to power winning 112 of total 146 assembly seats contested, Patnaik, true to his words, has invited the PM to Bhubaneswar. It would be a rare occasion if the PM makes it possible to be at Patnaik’s swearing in ceremony on May 29 to be held at IDCO Exhibition ground. It is for the first time that Patnaik will take oath outside the governor’s house.
However, so far, there is no official confirmation if the PMO has responded to the CM’s invitation.
