TNI Bureau: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) observed the birth centenary of former Odisha Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Janaki Ballabh Patnaik at Congress Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. The programme was held under the chairmanship of OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das.

Senior Congress leaders paid floral tributes to the portrait of the late leader after lighting ceremonial lamps. A documentary on Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, prepared by senior Congress leader Manas Chaudhury, was released by former Karnataka Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily, AICC general secretary and MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang, and Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu.

Paying tribute, Surjewala described the late leader as the pioneer of the Rs 2 rice scheme and recalled the Congress party’s role in launching food security initiatives to ensure that no one remained hungry.

Speaking on the occasion, Moily said Janaki Ballabh Patnaik was a close friend and a multifaceted personality who was a litterateur, administrator and development-oriented leader. He noted that Patnaik strongly believed industrial growth was key to Odisha’s development and laid the foundation for several industries during his tenure.

OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said Patnaik was known as a strong organiser and visionary leader. Several senior Congress leaders, including Ramchandra Kadam, Niranjan Patnaik, Jayadev Jena, Prasad Harichandan, Srikant Jena and others, also spoke on his life and contributions.

The programme was conducted by OPCC media department chairman Arvind Das.