CM Majhi joins Governor, Khattar at National Urban Conclave 2026 cultural evening
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi joined Governor Brajmohan Ram and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at a cultural evening during the National Urban Conclave 2026, where urban policy discussions and heritage celebrations went hand in hand.
Key Takeaways
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the cultural evening of the National Urban Conclave 2026 on Saturday, 24 October 2026 .
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar , who heads Housing and Urban Affairs, and Governor Brajmohan Ram were also present.
The conclave is a key platform for coordinating Central urban schemes — including AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission — with state governments.
Majhi became Odisha's Chief Minister following the BJP's victory in the June 2024 state assembly elections .
Khattar served as Chief Minister of Haryana from 2014 to 2024 before joining the Union Cabinet.
Post-conclave project announcements or a joint communiqué could signal Odisha's next phase of urban development commitments.
Policy and performance shared the stage on Saturday evening as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi joined Odisha Governor Brajmohan Ram and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar at the cultural evening hosted as part of the National Urban Conclave 2026.
Majhi described the occasion as 'a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our rich cultural heritage and the traditions that bring us together,' framing the evening as more than a ceremonial footnote to the day's policy discussions. The conclave brings central and state leadership together to chart the course of India's urban development agenda — a platform where scheme implementation, city planning, and governance challenges are debated at the highest level.
Where urban policy meets cultural diplomacy
The National Urban Conclave serves as a key coordination mechanism between the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and state governments. Khattar, who has helmed the ministry after a decade as Chief Minister of Haryana from 2014 to 2024, brings deep federal negotiating experience to these interactions. For states like Odisha, such conclaves are a direct pipeline to flagship programmes including the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), launched in 2015, and the Smart Cities Mission, which targets integrated planning across 100 cities nationwide.
Cultural evenings woven into these policy summits are a recurring feature of BJP-led federal engagements — a deliberate signal that urban modernisation and heritage preservation are not competing priorities. The presence of the Governor alongside the Chief Minister and a Union Cabinet minister also underscores the institutional weight the conclave carries.
Odisha's urban development stakes
Majhi, who took charge as Chief Minister following the BJP's landmark victory in Odisha's June 2024 assembly elections, has been steadily positioning the state within the national urban development framework. Odisha has cities enrolled under both AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission, making the conclave directly relevant to on-ground project timelines and fund flows. Participation at this level signals active state engagement in what are ultimately partnership-driven schemes — Central funding contingent on state execution.
Whether the National Urban Conclave 2026 produces a joint communiqué or specific project announcements will determine how much of Saturday's goodwill translates into concrete policy movement for Odisha's growing urban centres.
Point of View
Alongside a senior minister and the Governor, signals that Odisha under BJP leadership is keen to be seen as a proactive partner in schemes like AMRUT and Smart Cities, not a passive recipient. Khattar's ministerial role is particularly significant: as a former chief minister himself, he understands state-level friction points and can accelerate clearances. The cultural framing of the evening also serves a political purpose — it connects modernisation to identity, a consistent BJP messaging strategy at federal conclaves.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Urban Conclave 2026?
The National Urban Conclave 2026 is a national-level policy event that brings together central ministry officials and state governments to discuss urban development, infrastructure, and the implementation of schemes like AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission.
Who is Manohar Lal Khattar and what is his current role?
Manohar Lal Khattar is a senior BJP leader who served as Chief Minister of Haryana from 2014 to 2024 and currently serves as the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs in the Central government.
What is Mohan Charan Majhi's role in Odisha?
Mohan Charan Majhi is the Chief Minister of Odisha, elected in June 2024 following the BJP's victory in the state assembly elections.
What is the AMRUT scheme and how does it relate to Odisha?
The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, or AMRUT, was launched in 2015 to fund urban infrastructure projects across Indian states. Odisha has cities enrolled under the scheme, making conclaves like this directly relevant to fund flows and project timelines.
Why do national policy conclaves include cultural programmes?
Cultural evenings at policy conclaves are used to reinforce the message that urban modernisation and cultural heritage are complementary goals. Under BJP-led administrations, such events regularly blend technical policy discussions with celebrations of regional traditions.
