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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched railway projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore in Odisha and flagged off the state's first 'Vande Bharat Express'. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik predicted PM Modi's victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which is being interpreted in many political ways. Let us know that Naveen Patnaik recently met PM Modi in Delhi.

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday expressed hope that the Puri airport will be completed in three to four years and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come to inaugurate it. It is being said that in a way, Patnaik has predicted the victory of Narendra Modi in 2024. Addressing the event through video conference, Patnaik said, "I recently met the Prime Minister and had a detailed discussion on the proposed Sri Jagannath International Airport in Puri. With the cooperation and support of the Prime Minister, this airport will be ready within three-four years. The Prime Minister will come to 'Shrikshetra' (Puri) to dedicate it to the nation."

Significantly, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee are trying to bring Naveen Patnaik into their fold. Recently, Nitish met Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. However, after that meeting, Patnaik did not say anything about the alliance. Soon after, on May 11, Patnaik came to Delhi and met PM Modi.

After meeting the PM, Patnaik had said that BJD will not have an alliance with any party and the question of a third front does not arise. Now Patnaik's prediction of PM Modi's return to power will likely disappoint the opposition parties who were hoping that Patnaik would side with them.

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