Biju Patnaik Sports Award to Retain Its Name, Confirms CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has clarified that the Biju Patnaik Sports Award, named after the legendary leader Biju Babu, will continue to be known by its original name. This statement comes a day after reports suggested that the award had been renamed to “Odisha Rajya Krida Samman.”

Addressing the media, Chief Minister Majhi stated that the renaming of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award had not been formally decided, and there were no plans to change its name. “I came to know about the renaming of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award from the media. The change of the name of the sports award has not been officially decided. My government gives respect to the great personalities of Odisha. The contribution of Biju Babu to Odisha and India in his long decades of political and social life will remain memorable forever. Biju Patnaik Sports Award will continue as earlier. There is no such plan to change its name,” Majhi told reporters.

The Sports and Youth Services Department had previously issued guidelines for the “Odisha Rajya Krida Samman,” which would be awarded annually in eight categories. These guidelines did not alter the amount of cash rewards. However, the potential renaming of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award sparked significant political controversy throughout the day.