AMN / BHUBNESHWAR
Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal has invited Naveen Patnaik to form the next government in the state. After being elected as head of the BJD legislature party, Mr Patnaik today met the Governor and staked his claim to form the new government.
Naveen Patnaik, who led the party to the huge victory in Odisha assembly elections, is scheduled to be sworn in as the chief minister for a record fifth consecutive term on Wednesday, the May 29.
Party sources said in view of the Cyclone Fani that caused death and heavy destruction in the state, the swearing-in ceremony will be simple and take place at an open ground in Bhubaneswar. The BJD won 112 of the 146 assembly seats in the recently concluded assembly polls.
The state has 147 assembly segments but polling in Patkura was postponed due to the death of a candidate and then due to cyclone Fani. The 15th Odisha Legislative Assembly which was formed on June 12, 2014, will complete its term on June 11, 2019.