Two days after the Sports Department of Odisha, under the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, decided to rename the state’s highest sports award, the Biju Patnaik Sports Award, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi declared on Sunday (July 21) that the award would continue to bear the name of the former CM.

The Sports Department had released a notification on July 19, renaming the Biju Patnaik Sports Award, which is the highest sporting honour in the state, to "Odisha Rajya Krida Samman" with an increase in the cash award from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.3 lakh.

Claiming that no such decision was taken to rename the award, Majhi said, “The sports award was instituted in the name of Biju Babu and no such decision has been taken to change its name. In his long illustrious political career, Biju Babu’s contribution in the political and social sphere for Odisha and the country will always be remembered. …My government gives much importance to legendary personalities of the soil,” Hindustan Times reported.

The reversal of the decision to rename the state award came after opposition from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, who voiced their opposition against the notification issued by the state sports and youth services department.

Traditionally presented on National Sports Day on August 29, the award spans eight distinct categories, encompassing outstanding performance in sports and games, lifetime achievement in the promotion of sports and games, best contribution to the promotion of sports and games, best para sportsperson, best upcoming athlete, excellence in coaching, and excellence in sports journalism.