Previous govt spent ₹33cr on ads between Jan 2023-May 2024: Odisha govt in assembly

During this period, the Information and Public Relations Department had requested certain newspapers to publish advertorials on several programmes

Published on: Aug 30, 2024, 10:34:40 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The previous Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) state government spent over ₹33 crore from the state exchequer for advertisements between January 2023 to May this year, the government told the state assembly on Thursday.

BJD said advertisements were given to promote government schemes. (Odisha state assembly)

Replying to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Laxman Bag about the expenditure on government advertisements in newspapers, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi who also holds the information and public relations department, said ₹33.71 crore was spent on government advertisements in various newspapers of the state. Of this, ₹15.26 crore was spent on advertisements and advertorials featuring former 5T chairman and Patnaik’s aide VK Pandian, said the chief minister.

“During this period, the Information and Public Relations Department had requested certain newspapers to publish advertorials on several programmes and these included photos related to specific events, featuring both the CM and his close aide Pandian. The department published advertisements in various newspapers, highlighting various government schemes and programmes, during this period,” Majhi said.

Also Read: BJD, Congress boycott Odisha MLA orientation programme citing protocol violation

Reacting to the CM’s reply, BJD said advertisements were given to promote government schemes.

“The advertisements were given to popularise various government schemes. None of the advertorials had Pandian’s photos and only featured Naveen Patnaik. These types of attacks are very cheap,” said BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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