National president JP Nadda will attend the event. However, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will give it a miss owing to health issues.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken significant steps in appointing new leadership for Odisha. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav have been named as central observers for selecting the Chief Minister of Odisha. This announcement was made by Arun Singh, the National General Secretary of BJP, in an official release on Sunday.

The 63-year-old leader, hailing from Sundargarh district, has a distinguished career, being the country's first tribal affairs minister under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In a devastating incident in Odisha's Jajpur district, a bus carrying approximately 50 passengers veered off a flyover on National Highway-16 near Barabati, resulting in five fatalities and leaving around 38 individuals injured. The bus, en route from Cuttack to West Bengal's Digha, met with the accident, causing widespread shock and sorrow in the region.

In a significant disciplinary move, the Indian National Congress has expelled Jatani MLA Suresh Kumar Routray from the party for a period of six years. The expulsion comes in response to allegations of indiscipline and engaging in anti-party activities.

Bhrugu Baxipatra & Pradeep Panigrahy belonged to their opponent’s party before changing turfs.

Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Baxipatra aspired to contest the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat again under the BJP banner. However, the party's decision to field recently-joined MLA Pradeep Panigrahy prompted Baxipatra's departure.