Orissa CM opts for early polls

Source: PTI

January 30, 2004

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday informed Governor M M Rajendran that his government would like to call an assembly session from February 3-5 to seek approval for a vote-on-account.

After a meeting of the council of ministers on Thursday, the chief minister had announced that a three-day session of the assembly would be convened from February 3 and the council of ministers would meet again after the brief session to recommend dissolution of the House on February 6.

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Leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislature party and Revenue Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan Patnaik accompanied the chief minister to the meeting with the governor.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal-BJP coalition had earlier decided to call for assembly polls exactly a year ahead of schedule to coincide with the Lok Sabha polls to benefit from the 'feel-good' factor that the BJP is banking on to return the National Democratic Alliance to power at the Centre.

In a separate development on Thursday, the BJD faction led by Rajya Sabha member Dilip Ray decided to join hands with the Congress.