PM Modi Launches Rs 20,000 crore Projects In Odisha, Calls Naveen 'Popular CM'

BHUBANESWAR: Amid speculations on BJD-BJP bonhomie ahead of the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik heaped praises on each other at Chandikhole on Tuesday. 

Modi was at Chandikhole where he dedicated and laid foundation stones of several projects worth about Rs 20,000 crores in Odisha. 

“The Prime Minister has set a new direction for India. He has taken India on an accelerated drive to make the country an economic powerhouse. I request PM's cooperation for Odisha's development,” Naveen said at the official event. 

Addressing Naveen as Odisha’s popular chief minister, Modi said Odisha's new journey of development has started. Modi said the new projects would create employment opportunities in Odisha. 

Modi, who subsequently addressed a public rally in Chandikhole, paid rich tributes to legendary Biju Patnaik on his 108^th birth anniversary and acknowledged his contributions in the development of Odisha and India. 

While inaugurating the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur on February 3, Modi referred to Naveen as his friend. Later Modi refrained from targeting the BJD at his public address the same day.