President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are to jointly attend the second anniversary celebrations of the BJP government in Odisha. A grand event has been planned at Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district, the President’s hometown, on June 20.
The selection of Rairangpur as the venue is a departure from the usual practice of hosting such government anniversary events in the state capital. By taking the festival to the tribal hinterland, the BJP government appears keen to send a strong political message about its commitment to tribal communities and regional development.
The proposed event has assumed greater significance as, for the first time in the political history of Odisha, both the President and the Prime Minister are expected to attend the anniversary celebrations of the state government. This will be the Prime Minister’s eighth visit to the state in the last two years.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the President and the Prime Minister have agreed to attend the event to be held in Rairangpur to mark the second anniversary of the government.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the preparations for the event. Emphasizing that every aspect of the program should be executed flawlessly given the presence of the President and the Prime Minister, he directed officials to make elaborate arrangements for security, public amenities, traffic management and parking facilities.
“The President and the Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several important projects on the occasion. A detailed itinerary is being finalised,” the CMO said.
The incident appears to be politically significant, extending beyond Odisha and holding strategic implications for the BJP’s tribal reach in eastern India, particularly neighboring Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The selection of Rairangpur, located in northern Odisha bordering Jharkhand and close to West Bengal, adds a broader regional dimension to the programme.
Political observers said Mayurbhanj shares deep socio-cultural and ethnic ties with the tribal areas of Jharkhand and the Jangalmahal region of West Bengal. Communities such as the Santhals have a significant presence in all three states.
“The timing of the event is equally important. Jharkhand is expected to remain a major political battleground for the BJP, while the saffron party aims to remain in power in West Bengal and Odisha for a long time. The Rairangpur event is likely to serve as a platform for the BJP to highlight welfare initiatives, infrastructure development and representation of tribal communities,” he said.
The Odisha government can use this opportunity to showcase the achievements recorded during its two-year tenure and present its roadmap for future development. Many new programs are also likely to be unveiled. Modi is scheduled to visit Kolkata on June 21, where he will lead national-level celebrations of International Yoga Day.
Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha MP Naba Charan Majhi said the President is expected to reach Rairangpur on June 19, while the Prime Minister will attend the function the next day. Describing the event as a historic event, he said that this would be the first time when both the President and the Prime Minister would jointly attend a public function in Rairangpur.
With nearly 80 per cent of the region’s population being from tribal communities, Mayurbhanj has fast become the focal point of the BJP’s tribal development narrative. Highlighting the broader significance of the visit, Majhi said Rairangpur is closely linked to the personal and political visit of the President and has emerged as a symbol of tribal aspirations.
“Among several projects, a newly constructed sports stadium will be inaugurated in Rairangpur. Several developmental projects are also expected to be inaugurated or dedicated to the public in Rairangpur and the President’s village Paharpur,” he told media persons.