In Odisha, Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary is latest BJP-BJD flashpoint

National Panchayati Raj Day has been celebrated on April 24 since 1993 to commemorate the constitutional status of Panchayati Raj institutions.

However, Odisha has been observing March 5 as Panchayati Raj Divas since the early 1990s to mark Biju Patnaik’s contributions. In 1991, when Biju Patnaik was chief minister, Odisha became the first state in the country to reserve one-third of the seats in Panchayati Raj institutions for women.

“The decision to celebrate Panchayati Raj Divas on April 24 has been taken to clear the confusion between national and state Panchayati Raj Day celebrations. We will also celebrate Lokseva Divas on April 24,” said a senior government officer.

Biju Patnaik’s son Naveen Patnaik, during his tenure as chief minister, had in 2020 made March 5 both Panchayati Raj Divas and Lokseva Divas.

The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has criticised the BJP government’s decision. Senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said Biju Patnaik had played a big role in empowering Panchayati Raj institutions and that delinking his name from Panchayati Raj Divas was a dishonour and disrespect to him.

“Biju Babu is a statesman. He made huge contributions towards strengthening the Panchayati Raj system, not just in Odisha but across India. He pioneered some of the decisions, like reservation of seats for women in Panchayati Raj bodies. The decision of the state government not to celebrate Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary as Panchayati Raj Divas has hurt the sentiments of lakhs of panchayat representatives of Odisha,” Mishra said.