PM Modi to visit Odisha on Feb 3

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming official tour to Odisha on February 3 has been confirmed by BJP state unit president Manmohan Samal. Although the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has not yet disclosed the specifics of the tour, it is widely anticipated that PM Modi will be inaugurating the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Sambalpur at Basantpur locality, situated on the outskirts of the city.

The inauguration of the IIM-Sambalpur campus holds significant importance, especially since PM Modi had laid its foundation stone on January 2, 2021. Spanning across a vast 200-acre area with a budget exceeding Rs 400 crore, the establishment of this permanent campus marks a pivotal development in the region.

Furthermore, it is anticipated that PM Modi will address a public gathering in Sambalpur, strategically aligning with the upcoming General Elections in 2024. This visit holds added significance as western Odisha is recognized as a stronghold for the BJP, boasting five out of the party’s eight Lok Sabha members. Speculations are rife that Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan may be nominated by the BJP for the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, which is presently  represented by Nitesh Gang Deb.