The Biju Janata Dal celebrated International Women’s Day at Sankha Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on March 8, 2026. Party president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the event organised by Biju Mahila Janata Dal.
Addressing the gathering, Patnaik said the BJP government in Odisha faces a leadership crisis and women continue to suffer increasing atrocities without redress. He expressed concern over the lack of accountability and asked how long such conditions would persist.
Patnaik emphasised that the BJD believes in the complete empowerment of women, unlike other parties that focus on token gestures. He asserted that BJD remains committed to ensuring dignity, safety, and empowerment for mothers and sisters. He recalled that during BJD’s tenure, the government introduced historic measures for women’s welfare and brought them into the mainstream of development.
He highlighted the vision of Biju Patnaik, describing him as the pioneer of women’s empowerment in India. He said Biju Patnaik understood the importance of women in social progress and took transformative steps to secure their rights. Naveen Patnaik reaffirmed that BJD will continue its fight for women’s dignity, safety, and empowerment.
The event, presided over by Biju Mahila Janata Dal president Snehangini Chhuria, featured speeches from senior women leaders of the party. They echoed the commitment to women’s welfare and pledged to carry forward BJD’s legacy of empowerment.
