Bhubaneswar, April 17 : Empowerment of women was the favourite programme of Biju Patnaik, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said here at a state level function organised by the state government to observe his 25th death anniversary. Paying his tribute to Biju Babu, the Chief Minister said he was very happy at the participation of women in large numbers and their success in the recently concluded Panchayat and Urban Body election. Describing women as the guide (SARATHI) of new Odisha, Patnaik said their efficiency and success are the best tribute to Biju Babu. Naveen said Biju babu and his style of working was always que. His only objective was the development of Odisha and Odias. His focus was always on the development, empowerment and self-respect of Odias. He never compromised on these things, the Chief Minister said. Naveen said Biju Babu was known more as a mass leader than a political leader across the country. Information and Public Relations department Minister Raghu Nandan Das, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das were among others who spoke on the occasion. Earlier in the day Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Assembly Speaker S N Patro, Deputy Speaker Rajani Kant Singh, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Kesari Arukh paid floral tribute to the statue of Biju Babu in the Assembly premises. A report from Puri said Biju Janata Dal (BJD) activists observed the occasion by lighting lamps in front of the main gate of the Jagannath Temple and organised a blood donation camp under Jiban Bindu programme. . Former Ministers Sanjay Kumar Dasburma and Maheshwar Mohanty, and the party’s state youth wing Vice President Subhasis Khuntia paid floral tribute at the twenty feet high statue of Biju Patnaik at Hospital square. BD SSP