Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has claimed that the state’s financial position was in poor shape when the BJD came to power in 2000, but the party left behind an additional revenue of ₹50,000 crore when it was voted out in 2024.
Patnaik attributed the achievement to what he described as the sound financial management of the previous BJD government.
He further claimed that Odisha’s economy is currently facing a difficult situation and expressed concern over the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament.
According to Patnaik, the amendment could have a significant adverse impact on Odisha and its people, particularly given the state’s dependence on its mineral resources.
His remarks come amid a wider political debate in Odisha over the state’s finances, mining revenues and the implications of changes to the central mining framework.
