After heated campaigns, PM Modi shares pleasantries with Naveen Patnaik at Odisha oath ceremony
Bhubaneswar/IBNS: A rare acrimony between former allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) witnessed during the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections seemed to diminish on Wednesday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik exchanged pleasantries during CM Mohan Charan Majhi's swearing-in ceremony.
A video showed PM Modi and Patnaik, who lost the Odisha chief minister's post after 24 years and was invited to Majhi's oath-taking ceremony, speaking to each other and shaking hands before the Prime Minister moved on and greeted Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, one of the state's tallest BJP leaders.
#WATCH | Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with former Odisha CM and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik after the swearing-in ceremony of CM Mohan Charan Majhi concludes. pic.twitter.com/7iOR8u4FfS
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024
During the campaign, PM Modi had dared Naveen Patnaik to name all the districts of Odisha and their district headquarters without referring to any notes as a test of his knowledge of the state. The then chief minister had hit back and reminded the PM of all his "forgotten promises".
The BJD chief had also accused the PM of ignoring the "brave sons of Odisha" for the Bharat Ratna, including his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik, as well as the Odia language.
Ahead of the elections, PM Modi had said that a BJP chief minister would take oath in the state on June 10 and the BJD had scoffed at the statement.
After a reported alliance between the BJP and the BJD fell through during the lead-up to the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections, which were held simultaneously, the two parties launched strong attacks at each other.
PM Modi and Patnaik also took jibes at each other, which was a rarity given the leaders were known to share a good relationship and the BJD had supported the BJP on several occasions in Parliament, including in passing key bills.
Mohan Charan Majhi takes oath as Odisha CM
BJP leader Mohan Charan Majhi earlier in the day took oath as Chief Minister of Odisha, officially commencing the saffron brigade's rule in the state.
The four-time MLA took oath at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar around 5 pm.
ବିକଶିତ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଆମ ସଂକଳ୍ପ ।
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) June 12, 2024
ଆଜି ଆମ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ମଣ୍ଡଳର ପ୍ରଥମ କ୍ୟାବିନେଟ୍ ବୈଠକ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇଯାଇଅଛି । ଏହି ବୈଠକରେ କାଲି ସକାଳେ ପୁରୀ ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିରର ୪ ଦ୍ୱାର ଖୋଲାଯିବା ସହ ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିର କର୍ପସ ଫଣ୍ଡ ପାଇଁ ୫୦୦ କୋଟି ଟଙ୍କା ମଞ୍ଜୁର ହୋଇଛି । pic.twitter.com/Qn0rW1dvQP
He is the first Chief Minister of the saffron outfit in the East Indian state which was ruled for 24 years by the Biju Janata Dal.
In the recently held Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party routed the BJD by defeating former CM Naveen Patnaik's party.
The BJP won 78 out of the 147 seats in the Assembly.
The BJD won 51.
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