Observance of death anniversary of Biju Patnaik; a tussle to appropriate legacy in Odisha

The 29th death anniversary of former Chief Minister and legendary leader late Biju Patnaik will be observed on Friday (April 17, 2026), with people across Odisha remembering his contributions to the State. However, this year’s commemoration appears to carry a stronger political undertone compared to previous years.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), one of the most dominant regional forces in Odisha politics since 2000, was founded on the ideology and principles of Biju Patnaik and continues to project itself as the sole inheritor of his legacy.

During the tenure of Naveen Patnaik, several government programmes and infrastructure projects were named after the legendary leader, and despite occasional political murmurs, the Opposition lacked the strength to effectively challenge such moves in the face of BJD’s brute majority.