BHUBANESWAR: The BJD has dropped at least 30 per cent of its sitting MLAs and 50 per cent of sitting MPs this simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Although it was speculated that the regional party, which aims to return to the power for the sixth consecutive term, would drop more than 50 per cent of its sitting MLAs on the basis of their performance, the failed talks on alliance with BJP forced it to retain some of the sitting lawmakers. Party sources said 33 sitting MLAs of the 112 el

BHUBANESWAR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed expenditure, general and police for Odisha and shared their contacts on CEO, Odisha website. CEO officials said a total of 63 expenditure observers in IRS and similar service ranks from other states have been engaged in Odisha to keep a tab on election expenses of political parties, candidates and their agents. Similarly, 10 senior officials including IPS, all from outside Odisha, have been engaged as police observers to keep an e

BHUBANESWAR: Congress on Sunday changed candidates for five Assembly seats and announced its nominee for Nilagiri Assembly seat for the ensuing elections in Odisha. Besides, the party has fielded Jay Narayan Patnaik as candidate for Puri Lok Sabha seat after Sucharita Mohanty pulled out from the race citing funds crunch. The party has fielded former minister Debasis Nayak from the Bari Assembly seat in place of Arati Deo. Nayak, a former minister and four-time MLA from Bari, quit BJP and joined

BHUBANESWAR: Amid heightened surveillance by Commissionerate Police ahead of the elections, around eight border check posts have been set up in the state capital to prevent unlawful activities and illegal transportation of cash. Police have set up the check posts in areas bordering Khurda, Cuttack and Puri. Three flying squads each have been deployed in four Assembly constituencies, while five have been engaged in Bhubaneswar North Assembly constituency as it is cash sensitive, said a senior pol

BHUBANESWAR: BJD on Sunday moved the Election Commission of India (ECI) accusing Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan of violating the model code of conduct during his recent visit to Odisha. BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra told mediapersons here that a complaint addressed to chief election commissioner has been sent by e-mail, while a copy of the petition has been submitted in the office of Odishas chief electoral officer (CEO). The BJD memorandum alleged Harichandan was on a visit to Bh

BHUBANESWAR: 5T chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian on Sunday lashed out at the Opposition political parties for giving importance to their interest rather than working for the welfare of the people. In a day-long marathon campaign at Birmaharajpur, Boudh, Sonepur and Nayagarh, the 5T chairman said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik believes in service of people unlike the Opposition political parties who work only for their own interest. In the 11th day of his election campaign, Pandian said tha

BHUBANESWAR: BJP on Sunday moved the ECI yet again accusing 2004-batch IPS officer Ashish Kumar Singh, currently posted as IG (CM security), of monitoring and strategising election campaign for BJD in violation of the MCC. In a memorandum to the chief election commissioner, the party alleged Singh, after being transferred from the post, has become even more brazen. Instead of managing the CMs security from his office situated in the CMs residence, Singh illegally sits on the sixth floor of the E

BHUBANESWAR: National BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday lambasted the Naveen Patnaik government for not fulfilling several promises made to people in the last 24 years. The BJD has failed to fulfil its many promises while corruption, bribery and theft have become commonplace in the state, he said. Sadly, income of the farmers of Odisha is one of the lowest in the country as they are not receiving fair price for their crops. Water is not reaching to their farmland as the government could not keep

BHUBANESWAR: Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) successfully met the record peak demand of 2,140 MW on April 30 without any network constraints. The power demand of the state capital city touched 627 MW on that day as the temperature was at an all-time high of 45.4 degree Celsius. The highest demand of power under TPCODL area in April last year was 1,876 MW of which 514 MW was the peak demand of Bhubaneswar. This summer, the peak demand witnessed a significant increase of 15

BALANGIR: Taking action against motorcycle offenders to instill discipline in the system, Balangir police levied fines totaling Rs 3,80,000 on violators over the weekend. The crackdown saw a record fine of Rs 1,17,000 imposed on a single two-wheeler rider on Friday, followed by fines of Rs 1,23,000 on Saturday and Rs 1,40,000 on Sunday. Utilising the extensive CCTV network installed throughout the town, police efficiently tracked down violators, confirming their vehicle numbers and issuing fines

BALASORE: The rift in BJDs Bhograi unit was out in the open after a heated exchange broke out between two senior leaders on stage at a party meeting in Teghari here on Saturday. The verbal duel between BJDs district vice-president Tapan Panda and Bhograi block president Ramakanta Karana took place in presence of the partys Balasore Lok Sabha candidate Lekhasri Samantsinghar and nominee from Bhograi Assembly seat Gautam Buddha Das. Sources said the local BJD organised a public meeting in zone-35

NIMAPARA: There is no infighting over selection of candidate for Nimapara Assembly constituency in Biju Janata Dal, said MP candidate from Jagatsinghpur Rajashree Mallick here on Sunday evening. Speaking at a workers meet here at Town Hall ground, she said the BJD is united here and we all want our leader Naveen Patnaik to be the CM for the 6th time, she added. I urge all Biju and Nabin family members to be united and cast their vote in favour of Dillip Nayak. Together we will ensure development

JAJPUR: An elderly man and his son died of electrocution while his wife sustained critical injuries after coming in contact with a live wire in Bengapatia village within Jajpur Road police limits here on Sunday. Police identified the deceased as 62-year-old Ganesh Mandal and his son Ashutosh Mandal (28) of Bengapatia village under Danagadi block. The injured, Tulasi Mandal (58), is undergoing treatment at Danagadi community health centre (CHC). Sources said Ashutosh was repairing electrical cabl

BHUBANESWAR: The proposed Gopalpur-Phulbani-Sambalpur railway line has run into rough weather with both the state and Centre at loggerheads over its alignment leading to delay in finalisation of the detailed project report (DPR). The new line, sanctioned in 2019, may take a political turn as Odisha government has often blamed the Centre for ignoring the states demand on various railway projects. Sources said the Odisha Rail Infrastructure Development Limited (ORIDL), a joint venture between the

BHUBANESWAR: Even as BJP on Sunday released its poll manifesto for Odisha, BJD claimed people of the state still believe in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as the saffron party has a record of not fulfilling its promises. 5T chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian said the BJP had released manifestoes in 2014 and 2019 too but people did not believe in the saffron party and reposed their faith in the chief minister because he walks the talk. Referring to BJPs promise of doubling the minimum support pric

PURI: A group of Congress workers went on rampage and vandalised the partys district office on Sunday after Puri Assembly seat candidate Sujit Mahapatra was replaced with senior leader Umaballav Rath. Supporters of Mahapatra also reportedly attacked Rath near Puri bus stand in the evening. Rath suffered head injuries and was admitted to the hospital. On Saturday, the Congress changed its Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sucharita Mohanty who returned her ticket alleging denial of funds by the party. The

SAMBALPUR: Launching yet another attack on the ruling BJD government, Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan said the Odisha government is painting school buildings and publicising it as development of education in the state. Speaking during a road show in Rairakhol on Sunday, Pradhan emphasised on the state governments failure to address fundamental issues in education and healthcare. While the primary responsibility of education rests with the state gover

BHUBANESWAR: With an eye on women voters who constitute nearly 50 per cent of the states electorate, the BJP on Saturday promised to launch Subhadra Yojana under which every woman will a get cash voucher of Rs 50,000, if it comes to power. Releasing the Sankalp Patra (election manifesto) with the stamp of Modis guarantee for Odisha Assembly elections that will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls commencing May 13, BJP national president JP Nadda said the voucher can be encashed over

CUTTACK (KAKHADI): At least 165 Indian Skimmers have arrived at the sand bed of Mahanadi river at Kakhadi in Athagarh this year for nesting and laying eggs, the Forest department informed. Khuntuni forest range officer Nilamadhab Sahu said the Indian Skimmers have so far laid around 82 eggs of which 35 have hatched as of now. Steps have been taken to protect both eggs and the hatchlings and awareness drive undertaken in the locality involving educational institutions, residents and fishermen, he

BHUBANESWAR: The patient, who underwent the first cadaveric liver transplantation at Utkal Hospital, has been discharged after just over 15 days of post-operative care in hospital settings. Forty-one-year-old Sarat Pradhan of Subarnapur had received liver from Sanjukta Patra of Keonjhar who was declared brain dead following a brain stroke. Pradhan will be under direct supervision of the hospital for next three months before being shifted to his home. He said he was lucky to receive the organ as

BHUBANESWAR: Close to 66,000 students will appear for the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) in the state on Monday. Officials of the OJEE committee said the figure is around 10,000 more than the previous year. A total of 65,742 students will write the examination to get enrolled into different engineering and other professional courses offered in professional colleges and institutions in the state. Around 21,170 diploma students will appear for lateral entry to BTech (LE Tech) course whil

BHUBANESWAR: The severe heatwave which has thrown normal life out of gear across the state is set to abate this week. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said maximum day temperature will fall by 4 degree to 6 degree C at many places within three to four days under the influence of rainfall and thundershower activity. Rainfall and thundershower activity is likely to continue till Saturday. The flow of moisture carrying winds from Bay of Bengal will enhance this week and interact with the w

CUTTACK: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday spoke on Indias role as a Vishwa Bandhu (worlds friend) emphasising its diplomatic influence and global partnerships. Addressing a conference on Vishwa Bandhu Bharat here, he highlighted record Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows and strategic connectivity projects with countries like UAE, Iran, and Russia while outlining Indias effort to enhance global cooperation. Indias foreign policy and its identity have reached a new high across

It was Apana Mane Khusi Ta last time. This election, it has become Naveen Patnaik Bhala Ki. After almost 25 years, why does Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik feel the need to ask the people this? His popularity has by no means diminished. Is it because the Opposition has made VK Pandian its sole target. Is this an attempt to shift the narrative back to Naveen Patnaik? This is his (Naveens) way of connecting with people. He has these one-liners which click. He wanted to respond because the Opposition

BENGALURU: JD(S) leader and party MLA H D Revanna was remanded to police custody till May 8 by a city court on Sunday in connection with a case of alleged kidnapping and illegal confining of a woman. Revanna, who is the son of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, was arrested on Saturday by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after his bail plea was rejected in a case related to kidnapping and illegally confining a woman who is the mother of three children. The FIR was regist

SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday asked the voters in Kashmir to remain vigilant to the possibility of manipulation of the EVMs when they cast their votes for the Lok Sabha elections. It is important for all the voters to know that the EVM is a theft machine. On the polling day, you will go through the process of identification and then your finger will be inked. When you go to the EVM booth, you should check the (LED) lights on it, he said. After you cast the vot

BERHAMPUR: The Rayagada administration, in a bid to ensure 100 per cent voting in the elections, has come up with two unique initiatives to encourage people to exercise their right to vote. As per the direction of collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan, officials of the district administration have been moving door-to-door to distribute handmade bamboo fans in the remote areas sensitising people about their voting rights. Painted with details of the polling booths in Idital, a form of Saura painting,

BERHAMPUR: In a tragic incident, two women labourers lost their lives and two others sustained serious injuries when a brick kiln collapsed on them at Nuagada village under Pattapur police limits in Ganjam district on Friday. The tragedy struck as nine labourers were engaged in the brick kiln, with four inside to stack raw bricks. However, the high stakes gave way, trapping the four workers underneath. Despite rescue efforts, one labourer perished on the spot, while the remaining three were rush

ROURKELA: High drama unfolded at the office of the returning officer (RO) for the prestigious Rourkela Assembly constituency (AC) during scrutiny of nomination papers after the BJP demanded rejection of BJD nominee and minister Sarada Prasad Nayaks candidature on ground of false declaration made by him. However, at the end of scrutiny, the candidacy of Nayak was found to be valid. Representing heavyweight BJP candidate Dilip Ray, senior advocate of the Orissa High Court Pitambar Acharya on Satur

ROURKELA: Two college students drowned and as many narrowly survived while bathing in the Brahmani river near the barrage of the Tarkera pump house of the Rourkela Steel Plant within RN Pali police limits on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Raj Kumar Mahato and Zuraib Khan, both 20-years-old. Sources said the duo had gone to the Tarkera pump house site on a pleasure trip along with two of their friends Bhabesh Prasad and Rajib Prasad. The four had gone to the river for bathing at around

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has directed the senior superintendent, Circle Jail, Cuttack at Choudwar to submit reports on the past life, psychological conditions, post-conviction conduct and such other matters on two convicts who were awarded death sentence for rape and murder of a six-year-old girl. The direction assumes significance as it is for the first time that the Orissa High Court has passed such an order while considering a death reference. The high court expected the jail official t

BHUBANESWAR: Voting from home for the elderly and persons with disabilities (PwDs) has begun in several districts under Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Berhampur and Koraput constituencies that will go to polls in the fourth phase (first phase for Odisha) on May 13. As a part of the drive to ensure accessible and inclusive voting in the state, three polling officials, a police personnel and booth level officer visited voters houses with a postal ballot which was used by the voters to cast his or her vot

CUTTACK: Manas Barik (45), the first patient to have undergone liver transplant surgery at SCB Medical College and Hospital was discharged on Saturday. Manas wife Rashmita, who donated a portion of her liver, was also discharged along with her husband. The liver transplant has given a new lease of life to my husband, she said. Addressing mediapersons, SCB superintendent Prof Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra said Manas, a driver, was afflicted with decompensated liver disease accompanied by jaundice and a

BHUBANESWAR: The unbearable heatwave across Odisha will likely subside Monday onwards providing much-needed relief to people. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said maximum day temperature is likely to fall by 3 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius by next week. Thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40 km/h to 50 km/h are likely to prevail at one or two places in Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and 16 other districts on Monday. Light to moderate

BHUBANESWAR: A group of labourers from Balangir, who were allegedly assaulted at a brick kiln in Makthal village of Telangana, have appealed to the governments of Odisha and Telangana to rescue them. The migrant labourers belong to Sukuan village under Deogaon block of Balangir district. Sources said at least 26 labourers including seven children were brought to a PVC brick kiln in Makthal in October last year allegedly by labour sardar of Belpada block of Balangir, Biranchi Kumbhar, after payme

BHUBANESWAR: Nearly two months after resigning from the BJD and joining BJP, former minister and four-time MLA Debasis Nayak quit the saffron party and switched over to the Congress. Nayak joined Congress in the presence of Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar and former president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) NIranjan Patnaik. Addressing the joining ceremony, Kumar said an outsider has taken over BJD and making all attempts to sideline founder members of the party. The sole intension o

ANGUL: In Angul Assembly segment, a stronghold of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) since 2000, a fierce three-way clash among Congress, BJD, and BJP is imminent. Both the Congress and BJD have opted for new faces but the BJP has stuck to Pratap Pradhan as its nominee. Pradhan is set for a fight against Congress candidate Ambika Prasad Bhatta and BJDs Sanjukta Singh, wife of incumbent legislator Rajanikant Singh. Despite the BJDs efforts to reinvigorate its campaign with a change in candidate, po

SAMBALPUR: With the district recording over 40 degree Celsius temperature, authorities of the Sambalpur zoo have undertaken a slew of measures to protect animals from heatstroke and dehydration. As part of the summer prevention measures, all the 28 animal enclosures have been provided with bamboo sheds and thatched roofs to protect animals from the intense heat. Besides, water holes have been created in all the enclosures for animals to wallow and keep themselves cool. In addition to that, water

BALASORE: As many as 11 persons sustained injuries, four of them critically after being reportedly attacked by a swarm of bees while attending a funeral ceremony at Demuria village under Nampo police limits here on Saturday morning. The incident took place at the nearby cremation ground when the family members of the deceased were performing the last rites of a 60-year-old Ananta Jena, who died on Friday night. As the fire was lit, the heat disturbed the nearby bee hive, irritating the bees and

BHUBANESWAR: Upbeat over Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled roadshow in the state capital on May 10, the Bhubaneswar camp of BJP on Saturday held a meeting to make it a huge success. Party sources said MP and partys Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha candidate Aparajita Sarangi chaired the meeting with MLA candidates to review arrangements and propose the route for the roadshow. Road stretches including one that touches all three Assembly constituencies - Bhubaneswar, Ekamra, Central and North - of the

KORAPUT/BERHAMPUR/BHUBANESWAR: In a marked shift from the Apana mane khushi ta (Are you happy about with the government) pitch, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seems to be making a bid to turn the focus on himself during these elections. While campaigning in four southern districts on Saturday, the party supremo departed from his earlier style of electioneering and wanted to know more about himself and the performance of schemes introduced by his government. At Majhiguda in Nabarangpur, Naveen beg

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha seems to be shedding its poor state tag, if the property of the netas contesting this election are any indication. Nearly half of the candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections in the state in phase IV are crorepatis. Interestingly, of the four constituencies - Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Berhampur that are going to polls on May 13, three were unpopular as most backward regions for a long time. As per an analysis of affidavits by Odisha Election Watch and Associati

CUTTACK: Santrupt Misra (58), former HR head of Aditya Birla Group, who is contesting as BJD candidate from Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency is the richest to have filed nomination so far in Odisha. Misra in his affidavit submitted during filing of his nomination papers before returning officer-cum-collector, Cuttack Arindam Dakua on Saturday has declared that he and his wife Alka A Misra possess movable and immovable property worth Rs 482,21,02,942. As per the affidavit, while Santrupt has movabl

JAGATSINGHPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is encountering hurdles in making an impact in three of the four Assembly constituencies of Jagatsinghpur district, leading to speculation it might not see significant improvement from the 2019 Assembly elections, where it failed to secure any seat in the district. Efforts to strengthen the partys presence in Jagatsinghpur, Tirtol, Paradip, and Balikuda-Erasama constituencies have shown limited progress since the last elections which could reflect

CUTTACK: With enthusiasm writ large on her face, Cuttacks Minati Patnaik is all set to begin a new chapter in her life. This time, as a politician. The 64-year-old resident of Sutahat, who had come to limelight in 2021 for donating her house and jewellery - worth over Rs 1 crore - to a rickshaw puller, on Friday filed her nomination for contesting as Samruddha Odisha candidate for Cuttack Parliamentary constituency. She is gearing up to start her campaign across all the Assembly segments on Sund

NIMAPARA: In a dramatic turn of events, office-bearers at the block, NAC, and GP levels of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have collectively resigned from their positions, citing dissatisfaction over the partys candidate selection process. They have issued an ultimatum to the BJD supremo, and CM Naveen Patnaik, demanding a change in the partys candidate for the upcoming elections by Sunday noon. Nimapara MLA and former Minister Samir Ranjan Dash spearheaded the revolt, declaring that unless his wife,

BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Odisha twice in the next one week to bolster BJPs election campaign in the state. BJP national president JP Nadda and other senior leaders are also scheduled to visit the state to release the partys manifesto and give push to campaign activities of candidates for the ensuing elections. BJP state unit leaders said the prime minister will reach Bhubaneswar at around 9.30 pm on Sunday and make a night halt. He will address two public ral

BHUBANESWAR: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said Odisha needs a government that will have energy and commitment to propel the economic growth by utilising its skilled manpower and abundant natural resources. Addressing a media conference here, Jaishankar said, The need of the hour is to have a government that will be a good partner of the Narendra Modi government and have energy and commitment. Making a strong pitch for a BJP government in the state, Jaishankar said, You need

BHUBANESWAR: The BJD came down on Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for raking up Odia Asmita just before elections accusing him of trying his best to stall the Srimandir Parikrama project. Countering Pradhans attack on BJD shortly after his media conference, senior BJD leader and candidate for Satyabadi Assembly constituency Sanjay Das Burma said the union minister has no right to talk about Odia identity and pride as he did not accept the invitation to attend the inauguration of the Srimandir

BHUBANESWAR: With only 10 days left for Odishas first phase election to Lok Sabha and Assembly, the BJP has lined up its star campaigners to undertake an aggressive campaign in the state. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar is coming on a two-day visit to the state beginning Saturday. He is scheduled to meet editors of various media houses and later intellectuals on May 4 in Bhubaneswar. The next day he will interact with party workers in Cuttack, said state BJP vice-president Golak Moh