BJD has launched a social media campaign with an invite for swearing in of Naveen Patnaik as Chief Minister for a record sixth term

Bhubaneswar:7/5/24: The BJD has launched a social media campaign with an invite for swearing in of Naveen Patnaik as Chief Minister for a record sixth term to counter the BJP’s government formation narrative in Odisha.

“Naveen Patnaik will take oath as the country’s longest-serving CM and for the sixth consecutive term in Odisha. You are invited to witness this historic moment,” read the invite shared by BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra on X.

It also mentions June 9 as the date for the swearing-in ceremony along with the venue, Janata Maidan, and time, 11.30 am. The 77-year-old is the second longest-serving chief minister in the country’s history and if re-elected, would surpass former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling’s record. The latter was in power for 24 years and 167 days – from December 12, 1994, to May 27, 2019.

The BJD started the campaign shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the BJP will form the next government in Odisha while addressing two rallies in Berhampur and Nabarangpur, which will go to polls on May 13. Stating that June 4 is the expiry date of BJD government in the state, he told the gatherings that he had come to invite them to the swearing-in of a BJP CM in Bhubaneswar on June 10.

The Odisha BJP then made a post on X, stating the manufacturing and expiry date of the BJD.

The latest developments have cleared the political scenario in Odisha with the alleged ‘bonhomie’ between BJD and BJP taking the shape of staunch rivals at least till voting for 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 assembly segments are over.