"Odisha Facing Constant Neglect": 'Equidistant' Naveen Patnaik Hits Out At Centre

The Odisha chief minister said his state is not getting the kind of support that it should in a system of cooperative federalism.

On a day that his party chose not to take part in mega meetings called by opposition parties as well as the ruling alliance, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hit out at the centre, saying the state is not getting the kind of support that it should in a system of cooperative federalism.

Mr Patnaik, whose Biju Janata Dal (BJD) follows a stated policy of being "equidistant" from the ruling party and the opposition, also accused the government of constantly neglecting Odisha in the transfer of central funds - a charge which has also been levelled by Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of neighbouring West Bengal.

"Odisha is facing constant neglect in the transfer of state share and central funds," Mr Patnaik said. The BJP has, however, denied the allegation and said that Odisha has received the most central funds in the last nine years of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule.