This Article is From Apr 22, 2017

Naveen Patnaik's Second Delhi Visit In A Month Begins Today

Naveen Patnaik's Second Delhi Visit In A Month Begins Today

Naveen Patnaik had been on a visit to Delhi earlier this month from April 7 to 11.

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to leave on a five-day visit to the national capital today, his second visit to Delhi in a month, amid speculation of non-BJP parties planning to field a united candidate for the ensuing presidential elections.

Sources said Mr Patnaik is scheduled to attend a meeting of the NITI Aayog and meet some Union Ministers during his five days stay in the national capital. He is scheduled to return to the state on April 26.

Mr Patnaik had been on a visit to Delhi earlier this month from April 7 to 11 and had attended the Inter-State Council meeting.

The Chief Minister's programme of visiting Delhi came a day after his meeting with his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee.

Ms Banerjee had, however, claimed they had not discussed the presidential elections during the meeting.

Earlier in March, Mr Patnaik had a discussion with JDU president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bhubaneswar.

JD(U) spokesman KC Tyagi had then told a local news channel that Nitish Kumar had a talk with Naveen Patnaik on the ensuing presidential elections and that efforts are on to field a candidate by non-BJP parties.
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