VK Pandian, originally from Tamil Nadu, was a senior IAS officer in the Odisha cadre. He has just joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which is led by Naveen Patnaik. The BJD has been governing Odisha for over two decades, and Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister, has been a dominant figure in the state’s politics. ...

President Draupadi Murmu, during her visit to Odisha, started three new train services from Badampahar station. These trains include – It’s the first time an express train has started in this region, improving travel to states like Jharkhand and West Bengal and the industrial town Rourkela in Odisha. President Murmu explained that good connectivity, like ...