The decision to cancel the programme was taken after the party decided to hold the national council meeting on February 16 followed by a two-day national executive committee meeting on February 17 and 18 in New Delhi.

According to sources, the new date for his visit to Odisha will be finalised after the two-day national convention. While February 21 or 22 are tentative dates for the women’s convention, which the party is planning in Bhubaneswar, nothing has been finalised yet.

The national council meeting has been convened to ratify the extension of JP Nadda as party president till June, 2024, as well as to galvanise its cadre and lay down the agenda ahead of the Lok Sabha elections expected in April-May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president JP Nadda, most Union ministers and state organisation leaders are among the members of the council. All state office-bearers, morcha presidents, district presidents, Lok Sabha in-charges, cluster in-charges, Lok Sabha conveners, state spokespersons of the party, media cell conveners and IT cell in-charges have also been invited to attend the meeting.

The Prime Minister had on February 3 inaugurated, dedicated to nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects worth more than Rs. 68,000 crore during a public programme in Sambalpur. He also addressed a public rally after a gap of five years in the western Odisha town.

The decision to cancel the programme was taken after the party decided to hold the national council meeting on February 16 followed by a two-day national executive committee meeting on February 17 and 18 in New Delhi.

According to sources, the new date for his visit to Odisha will be finalised after the two-day national convention. While February 21 or 22 are tentative dates for the women’s convention, which the party is planning in Bhubaneswar, nothing has been finalised yet.

The national council meeting has been convened to ratify the extension of JP Nadda as party president till June, 2024, as well as to galvanise its cadre and lay down the agenda ahead of the Lok Sabha elections expected in April-May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president JP Nadda, most Union ministers and state organisation leaders are among the members of the council. All state office-bearers, morcha presidents, district presidents, Lok Sabha in-charges, cluster in-charges, Lok Sabha conveners, state spokespersons of the party, media cell conveners and IT cell in-charges have also been invited to attend the meeting.

The Prime Minister had on February 3 inaugurated, dedicated to nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects worth more than Rs. 68,000 crore during a public programme in Sambalpur. He also addressed a public rally after a gap of five years in the western Odisha town.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said that PM Modi may visit the state again on February 10 to address a Mahila Samavesh. “Two Mahila Samavesh will be organised in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. The tentative date for the event in Bhubaneswar is February 10 and the Prime Minister has given his consent to attend it. We will be able to share more information once the programme is confirmed,” he said.

Around 25,000 women from 14 states are likely to attend the Samavesh, which is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to make a dent into the trusted vote bank of BJD, in the city.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit Sambalpur on February 3 to attend a programme at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Sambalpur. He is also likely to lay the foundation stones of some projects and inaugurate some others during this one-day visit.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had also hinted that PM Modi may visit coastal Odisha after the tour of the western region.

The President along with Governor Raghubar Das and Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu joined the event. She flagged off a special boat at the event, commemorating the state’s ancient maritime glory. The ceremony was organised by the Paradip Port Authority on the occasion of Kartika Purnima.

During her visit to Paradip, Murmu also boarded a special vessel ‘Amogh’ of the Indian Coast Guard.

The President inspected port craft before addressing members of the fishing community. Special security arrangements have been made for the smooth functioning of the event.

The President, who had arrived in Bhubaneswar on Sunday evening on a two-day Odisha visit, had a night halt at Raj Bhavan in the state capital.

Murmu will also virtually inaugurate a Multi Model Logistic Park as well as lay the foundation stones for new reservoir and water treatment plant for Port Township and next-gen vessel traffic management and information system.

This is her second visit to Odisha in a week after spending three days in her home district Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur from November 20.

“Five Congress MLAs from Odisha recently visited Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi, who gave his consensus to visit Odisha towards the last week of October. The date will be finalised after discussion with OPCC President Sarat Pattanayak,” said the Khariar MLA.

He further informed that the MLAs proposed to hold meetings at its four zones in Odisha and discussed way to strengthen the party’s organisation with Rahul. “We have requested him to address rallies in the four zones and he has promised to visit the state to strengthen our party. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may also accompany him,” he added.

Rahul had last visited Odisha in 2019.

The Congress has nine MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Assembly. The next election in the state is due in 2024.

Folk artists performed at the airport and along the road which she took from the airport to Raj Bhavan.

Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik received Murmu at the airport as she reached on a three-day visit to her home state.

The president will travel to Cuttack on Wednesday, during which she will offer prayers at the Chandi Temple and visit the residence of Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das and pay floral tribute to his statue.

She will also visit the birthplace of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Netaji Museum.

Murmu is scheduled to be present at the valedictory function of the 75th-year celebrations of Orissa High Court in Cuttack and address the annual function of SCB Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. She will also grace the convocation of National Law University, Odisha, on the same day.

On Thursday, before returning to Delhi, the president will interact with the members of particularly vulnerable tribal groups at the Raj Bhavan.

She will also launch Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya theme for 2023 — ‘The Year of Positive Change’, and lay the foundation stone for its lighthouse complex at Dasabatia in Bhubaneswar.

Bhubaneswar DCP Pratik Singh said elaborate security arrangements have been made in the twin cities for the visit.

This is Murmu’s third visit to Odisha since assuming the country’s highest office on July 25, 2022.