Odisha CM Confirms Biju Patnaik Sports Award Will Not Be Renamed

BHUBANESWAR: In response to criticism from the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Sunday that the state government’s Biju Patnaik Sports Award will retain its original name.

The controversy began on Friday when the Sports and Youth Services Department issued new guidelines for this year’s award, renaming it ‘Rajya Krida Samman’. This decision sparked backlash, with many accusing the government of attempting to erase the legacy of the late Biju Patnaik, a revered figure in Odisha’s political and sports circles.

Addressing the issue, CM Majhi clarified that no formal decision has been made to rename the Biju Patnaik Sports Award. “Our government holds Biju Patnaik’s contributions to Odisha in the highest regard, and there has been no official move to remove his name from the prestigious award,” Majhi stated.

The chief minister’s announcement aims to quell the ongoing controversy and assure the public that the legacy of Biju Patnaik will continue to be honored through the sports award named after him.