Naveen Patnaik said that his late father and BJD founder Biju Patnaik’s legacy was inseparable from Odia self-esteem and could not be erased. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik strongly criticised the decision of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi’s government to shift the Panchayati Raj Divas celebration from March 5 to April 24. Naveen Patnaik said that his late father and BJD founder Biju Patnaik’s legacy was inseparable from Odia self-esteem and could not be erased.

“Biju Babu — every Odia’s chest swells with pride on hearing these two words. Courage comes. And the picture of a tall man with a large heart filled with courage and compassion comes to our mind. He was the pillar of faith for four-and-a-half crore people of Odisha,” the BJD supremo said, paying tribute to the legendary Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary on Wednesday (March 5, 2025).

“I said earlier that ‘Biju Babu’ is an idea in continuity, an idea of ​​realising the breadth of human aspirations, an idea of ​​Odia self-esteem, selfless service, and empowerment,” Mr. Naveen Patnaik said.

The former Odisha CM’s emotional outburst followed the State government’s decision to shift the Panchayati Raj Divas celebration from March 5, his father’s birth anniversary, along with reports of Biju Patnaik’s statue being defaced, and his name removed from State government schemes. The BJP government has also cancelled March 5 as a public holiday, which has not gone down well with the BJD.

“Since 1993, March 5 was being celebrated in Odisha as Panchayati Raj Divas. For more than 30 years, the State has celebrated Panchayati Raj Divas on March 5. What is the reason for such a decision? You can change the names of awards, deface his statues, change the dates, but you cannot take away the love and affection that the people of Odisha have for Biju Babu. He lives in the people’s hearts. How will you change that?” Mr. Naveen Patnaik said.

“Biju Babu lives in the hearts of people, not in stones and brick monuments. Let me ask the BJP government in Odisha — you have decided to shift the dates of the Panchayati Raj Divas in an attempt to erase the legacy of the great Biju Patnaik. Can you close Paradip Port? Can you close Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Sunabeda? Can you close NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation), Talcher? Can you close Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, and the National Institute of Technology Rourkela?” the veteran leader said, highlighting his father’s contributions to the State’s development.

The BJD president challenged the BJP government to deny that Biju Patnaik had initiated women’s reservation in panchayat bodies.

“Now they are trying to change the name of Biju Patnaik International Airport. Can you erase the history that Biju Babu was a freedom fighter and was in jail for India’s Independence? From how many projects will you erase his legacy? This speaks of immature politics and small minds,” Mr. Naveen Patnaik said.

He maintained that his father had “not entered politics for positions”, and that Biju Patnaik’s commitment to “the development of Odisha, the glory of Odisha, and the pride of Odia” had brought him to politics.

“Be it the Indonesian liberation struggle or the UNESCO Kalinga Award — he took the identity of the Odia people to new heights. Biju Babu created history in the country by empowering the Panchayati Raj system and providing 33% reservation for women in it. He emphasised empowering people. He used to call the sarpanch ‘the Chief Minister of the village’,” the five-time former CM of Odisha said.

“It speaks a lot about his deep commitment for an empowered Panchayati Raj system. In fact, a healthy Panchayati Raj system reflects the strength of our democracy. Biju Babu’s contribution to strengthening the Panchayati Raj system cannot be overlooked. For some years now, some people have been trying to distort history. But the people will never let them succeed. History is the open book of time, and the future will evaluate it impartially,” Mr. Naveen Patnaik said.