New Delhi/ Cuttack: Ahead of the upcoming session that would begin on June 27, BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday asked his party's nine Rajya Sabha MPs on Monday to act as a "vibrant and strong" opposition in Rajya Sabha.

During the meeting with his MPs, Patnaik also directed the lawmakers to highlight issues related to the state's interests in an appropriate manner.

"The BJD MPs this time will not be confined to speaking on issues only, but are determined to agitate if the BJP-led government at the Centre ignores Odisha's interest," BJD’s leader in Rajya Sabha Sasmit Patra was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

In addition to advocating for special status for Odisha, BJD MPs will also address concerns regarding inadequate mobile connectivity and a low density of bank branches in the state.

He added that for the past decade, the Centre has ignored Odisha's request to revise coal royalties, causing major losses to the state's residents who are being deprived of their rightful share.

He emphasised that the nine MPs in Rajya Sabha will act as a strong opposition and would fight for the interests of the people of Odisha.

The BJD leader stated that the party's stand is "no more support to BJP, only opposition" in parliament, adding that the MPs would go to any extent to protect the welfare of the people of Odisha.

The BJD also lost control of the state, ending its 24-year government as the BJP took over.

Apart from supporting the BJP on various issues in Parliament in recent years, the BJD played a role in Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's election to the Rajya Sabha in both 2019 and 2024.