Biju Patnaik Sports Award remains unchanged, confirms Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar, July 21: A day after the State government announced the renaming of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award to the Odisha Rajya Krida Samman, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi clarified that the award will retain its original name.

Speaking to the media, Majhi stated that there has been no formal decision to rename the Biju Patnaik Sports Award and that the government has no plans to change its name. He mentioned that he learned about the potential renaming from the media and emphasized that his government respects the legacy of great personalities in Odisha, particularly Biju Babu, whose contributions to the state and the nation are unforgettable.

Majhi assured that the Biju Patnaik Sports Award would continue as it was, with no changes planned. Earlier, on Friday, the Sports and Youth Services Department issued guidelines for the Rajya Krida Samman, which will be awarded in eight categories annually. These guidelines did not alter the cash rewards associated with the awards.

The announcement of the award's renaming had sparked significant political debate throughout the day.