Mass exodus of party leaders cause consternation in BJD camp

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The BJD appears to be standing on a sticky wicket. The increasing exodus of leaders from Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has generated a palpable sense of worry and uneasiness in the regional outfit’s camp. And, this exodus comes at a time when speculations are high that more BJD leaders will soon change their allegiance.

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 8: The BJD appears to be standing on a sticky wicket. The increasing exodus of leaders from Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has generated a palpable sense of worry and uneasiness in the regional outfit’s camp. And, this exodus comes at a time when speculations are high that more BJD leaders will soon change their allegiance.

The BJD leadership is now seemingly pondering how to contain the avalanche, both at district and state levels. Soon after the results of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections were out, a large number of gram Zilla Parishad members and block level panchayati raj representatives left the party and joined the BJP.

What came as big blows to the BJD is the quitting of the Rajya Sabha membership by two senior leaders – Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar. Both the leaders later joined the BJP.

According to senior BJD leader Amar Prasad Satpathy, the regular exodus of party leaders and their subsequent entry into the BJP fold is sending out a wrong signal and the party leadership must think over it.

“When Rajya Sabha members quit their membership as well as resign from the party, it sends out a wrong message to the public and demoralizes cadres of the organization. We must rethink and take course correction measures,” Satpathy told reporters on Sunday.

Realising that things are moving out of his control, BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik has decided to launch a mass outreach programme in November.

Senior BJD leader Ashok Chandra Panda, while claiming that Naveen Patnaik was still in the hearts of the people for all his “good work,” on Sunday said the party would stage a comeback in the coming days.

“Though we lost power in the 2024 assembly elections, we got more votes than the BJP. We have also got 51 of the 147 members in Odisha Legislative Assembly. This is not a small number. We will surely fight back and win the next elections to serve the people again,” said Panda.

Naveen, who kept himself cocooned to his residence after the poll debacle, on Saturday was spotted visiting Ganesh Puja mandaps in Bhubaneswar apparently to reestablish his connections with the local people.

15th NMC Teachers Meet in Odisha Organised by National Medicos Organisation at AIIMS Bhubaneswar

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Sep 16: The 15th NMC Teachers Meet in Odisha was organised by the National Medicos Organisation at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, officials said Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vijendra Kumar, Professor of Pediatric surgery Member of UG Curriculum Board National Medical Commission, said that there is need of more medical colleges to produce new doctors to strengthen the health care delivery in rural India (Gramin Bharat) as well as the urban India.

Dr Aruna Vanekar President UG Curriculum Board NMC highlighted the different changed in MBBS curriculum such as criteria for MBBS attendance, maximum numbers and years of attempts to complete the MBBS course and Internship . She also said the provision of mandatory thesis submission before Postgraduate final examination has been removed and included as part of final practical examination.

Dr BN Gangadhar Padmashree chairman of the National Medical Commission emphasised on role of Doctors as social reformers. Dr BN Gangadhar along with Dr Aruna Vanekar also interacted with Deans of all 17 medical colleges of the state clarified the queries pertaining to Family adoption programme, AETCOM module and competency-based curriculum.

Dr Viswambar Singh, Professor ENT, IMS BHU Varanasi and National coordinator for NMS Teachers meet, briefed about different health activitis of National Medicos Organisation throughout the year in Northeast states, Kashmir and other parts of the country.

Dr Yogendar Mallik President Ethics and Regulation Board of NMC briefed about the different forum to address the Doctor’s grievances, and changes made in regulations to allow the foreign graduates to practice in India and uniformity in medical registration.

Professor Manas Ranjan Sahoo Vice chancellor of Odisha University Health Sciences said the change in teaching learning pattern between previous and current generation students. He also said the NMC’s approach to reach the Deans medical teachers in medical colleges in different states to brief about their ideas and taking feedback is a novel approach to bring the desired changes in medical curricula. Dr Sailesh Kumar President of AIIMS Bhubaneswar told for this joint effort by NMO and NMC the AIIMS Bhubaneswar and other institute of National importance can play a crucial role.

Among others Dr N Deep Bag, Director Incharge AIIMS Bhubaneswar; Dr P.R. Mahaptra, Dean AIIMS Bhubaneswar; Gr Braja Kishore Dash, Additional DMET were also present in the meeting.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda in his message appreciated the NMC’s effort to hold such meeting and 14 such meetings already conducted in other states.

Read More Odisha News

A total of 175 medical teachers from all 17 medical colleges of the state including their Deans and from AIIMS Bhubaneswar attended the meeting.

Security Beefed Up In Bhubaneswar Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Sep 16: Tight security arrangements have been made in Bhubaneswar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Odisha on Tuesday, September 17, informed a senior police officer on Monday.

PM Modi during his one-day visit to Odisha on September 17 will launch the state government's 'Subhadra Yojana’ and will also lay foundation stone and dedicate to the nation railway projects worth over Rs 2,800 crore.

Under the Subhadra Yojana, all eligible women beneficiaries in the age group of 21 years to 60 years, would receive Rs 50,000 over a period of 5 years between 2024-25 to 2028-29. An amount of Rs 10,000 per annum in two equal instalments will be credited directly to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-enabled and DBT-enabled bank account. The Prime Minister would initiate the fund transfer into the bank accounts of more than 10 lakh women tomorrow.

The Prime Minister will land at the Biju Patnaik International Airport at 10.50 AM tomorrow and then travel to Gadkana village on the outskirts of the State Capital, where he is scheduled to interact with the beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana, officials said.

PM Modi would then reach Janata Maidan around 12 PM, from where he will launch the Subhadra Yojana, and unveil railway projects worth Rs 2,871 crore and highway projects worth Rs 1,000 crore, they said.

PM Modi would leave for Delhi around 1.15 pm, they added.

This is the PM’s first visit to the state after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on June 12.

Security has been heightened in the state capital with 3,000 police personnel, including 500 officers, being deployed. The entire roads on which the PM will travel have been barricaded, said Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda

A total of 11 DCP-rank officers, 22 additional DCPs, 66 ACP-rank officers, 100 inspectors, and 300 officers, along with 81 platoons of forces (each comprising 30 personnel) and 500 home guards would be deployed, he said.

Additionally, three special tactical units along with two companies of CRPF and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODARF) would also be on standby, he added.

Mass exodus of party leaders cause consternation in BJD camp

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