Patnaik meets PM to seek special status for Odisha; evasive on alliance

He said this when asked if his party would join NDA and what would be BJD's stand in the Rajya where the BJP-led NDA is in minority. BJD has 20 members in the new Lok Sabha and four in Rajya Sabha.

Among other things, Patnaik sought allocation of Rs 3160 crore in the railway budget for 2014-15 to his state. 

He sought approval for bringing in additional five lakh BPL beneficiaries for coverage under Indira Gandhi national pension scheme and Rs 1397 crore as a special central assistance for Nabakalebar festival in Puri in 2015. 

Patnaik also wanted inclusion of Kosala and Ho languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. 

He also demanded revising the mineral royalty rates by 15 per cent and to introduction of a mineral resource rent tax for the benefit of local areas.