Panda is new BJP leader in assembly

BHUBANESWAR: Nuapada MLA Basant Panda was declared BJP legislature party leader on Friday.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javedkar made the announcement after meeting the party's 10 MLAs here. State BJP president K V Singhdeo proposed Panda's name, which other members unanimously approved, a party release said.
"We will fight for the rights of people.I will give my best to the cause of people, highlighting their aspirations," Panda told mediapersons. Rourkela MLA Dillip Ray was not present at the meeting as he was in New Delhi, sources said. Ray's was also a contender for the post.
The Union forest and environment minister said the NDA government is committed to development of states like Odisha. He said Odisha government had so far not approached his ministry for clearance of pending projects. "The previous government left behind scores of projects. Many state governments have approached me for clearance of their proposals. But no one from Odisha has met me," Javedkar said.
To a query on sanction of central funds, the minister said everything depends on the state government's utilisation of money. "Our expectation is that states spend money. There are states that want more money. But there are others which are not able to utilise sanctioned amount," he added.