Odisha CM Majhi meets Amit Shah, seeks Central support for development push
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's New Delhi visit was more than a courtesy call — it was a coordinated push to secure Central backing across security, industry, and welfare. With Odisha now claiming Naxal-free status and eyeing faster industrial growth, Majhi's meetings with Shah, Vaishnaw, and the PM's Economic Advisory Council signal a state in active pursuit of its next development leap.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi met Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 31 July .
Discussions covered Naxal-free Odisha , industrialisation, cooperative sector, law and order, and welfare schemes.
Majhi credited Shah's leadership for Odisha earning recognition as a Naxal-free state .
The Gramodaya Yojana is being used to deliver welfare schemes in erstwhile Naxal-affected areas.
Shah assured the Chief Minister of the Centre's full support for Odisha's development aspirations.
Majhi also met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw , NITI Aayog member K.V.
Raju , and the Economic Advisory Council to the PM .
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 31 July called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, holding wide-ranging discussions on Odisha's development trajectory, internal security, industrialisation, and the rollout of welfare schemes. The Chief Minister sought continued Central support to sustain the state's growth momentum.
Key Discussions
The meeting covered a broad agenda — from consolidating Odisha's status as a Naxal-free state to accelerating industrial investment, strengthening the cooperative sector, and ensuring effective implementation of welfare programmes. Chief Minister Majhi briefed the Home Minister on the law and order situation and the state's internal security framework.
Odisha's Naxal-Free Milestone
Chief Minister Majhi credited Home Minister Shah's leadership for Odisha achieving recognition as a Naxal-free state, noting that the elimination of Left-Wing Extremism has opened the door for broader socio-economic development in previously conflict-affected districts. He said the state government is now channelling this peace dividend through the Gramodaya Yojana, ensuring Central and state welfare schemes reach erstwhile Naxal-affected areas effectively.
Industrial Growth and Security
The Chief Minister highlighted Odisha's rapid industrial expansion over the past two years and sought the Centre's assistance in strengthening industrial security to protect and sustain the pace of incoming investment. He also acknowledged Central support for the cooperative sector, particularly the revival of sugar mills in Odisha, and said proactive policing has been instrumental in maintaining law and order across the state.
Shah's Assurance and Other Meetings
Home Minister Shah appreciated the Odisha government's development-oriented and welfare-driven approach and assured Chief Minister Majhi of the Centre's full support in meeting the aspirations of Odisha's people. Separately, the Chief Minister also held discussions with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, NITI Aayog member K.V. Raju, and the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister on various development issues. The flurry of high-level meetings signals Odisha's intent to leverage Central partnerships as it positions itself as a leading investment destination in eastern India.
Point of View
Railway Ministry, NITI Aayog, and the PM's Economic Advisory Council in a single day — reflects a deliberate strategy to deepen Centre-state alignment ahead of Odisha's next investment cycle. The Naxal-free declaration is politically significant, but the harder test is whether the peace dividend translates into measurable employment and infrastructure outcomes in districts that were conflict zones until recently. Odisha's industrial pitch is gaining traction, yet Central industrial security support remains an under-discussed variable in sustaining that momentum. The cooperative sector revival, particularly sugar mills, is a telling detail — it points to ground-level economic distress that headline investment numbers often obscure.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi meet Home Minister Amit Shah?
Chief Minister Majhi met Home Minister Shah on 31 July in New Delhi to discuss Odisha's development priorities, including its Naxal-free status, industrial growth, cooperative sector revival, law and order, and the implementation of welfare schemes. He also sought the Centre's continued support to sustain the state's development momentum.
What is the significance of Odisha being declared a Naxal-free state?
Odisha's recognition as a Naxal-free state marks a major internal security milestone, as Left-Wing Extremism had long constrained socio-economic development in several districts. The elimination of this threat has reportedly created a more conducive environment for investment, infrastructure development, and welfare delivery in previously affected areas.
What is the Gramodaya Yojana mentioned in the meeting?
The Gramodaya Yojana is a state government initiative aimed at ensuring effective implementation of both Central and state welfare schemes in erstwhile Naxal-affected areas of Odisha. Chief Minister Majhi highlighted it as a key vehicle for channelling the peace dividend into grassroots development.
Who else did CM Majhi meet during his New Delhi visit?
Besides Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Majhi held discussions with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, NITI Aayog member K.V. Raju, and the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister on various development-related issues.
What assurance did Amit Shah give to Odisha's Chief Minister?
Home Minister Amit Shah appreciated the Odisha government's development and welfare-oriented approach and assured Chief Minister Majhi of the Centre's full support in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Odisha.
