Bhubaneswar, April 22: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today left for New Delhi on a five-day visit making it clear that he would raise the issue of special category state status to Odisha in the national capital.

This is Naveen's second visit to New Delhi in this month. He was there last from April 7 to April 11 to attend the inter-state council meeting.

Before leaving for Delhi, the chief minister said: "I will demand special packages for Odisha. I will seek appointments with some central ministers for Odisha's welfare."

He is scheduled to attend the Niti Ayog meeting tomorrow that will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Naveen's visit to New Delhi assumes significance amidst the talk of non-Congress Opposition parties trying to put up a non-BJP candidate in the upcoming Presidential election.

Though the Odisha chief minister has been keeping cards close to his chest on the issue, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee have met Naveen in the recent past. The three chief ministers, all of whom belong to regional parties, have most likely spoken on the issue.

Although these leaders have said that the meetings were courtesy calls, it is well known that both Nitish and Mamata have very good rapport with Naveen.

In the 2012 Presidential elections, Naveen had backed P.A. Sangma, who was later supported by the BJP, and the latter had launched his campaign for the Presidential election from Bhubaneswar.

However, the relationship between the BJP and the BJD have been strained to a considerable extent, especially after the recent panchayat polls.

The BJD, which recently held its national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar, has been on an aggressive mode vis-à-vis the BJD, its former alliance partner.

With 117 MLAs, 20 of 21 Lok Sabha members and eight Rajya Sabha members (including one BJD-backed member), the BJD's votes could become crucial for either side. It remains to be seen what the BJD's stand will be when the party's official position is to maintain equal distance from the Congress and the BJP.

On being asked about whether there was any plan to discuss the Presidential election, Naveen said: "There is no plan as yet."

However, BJD spokesperson Sashi Bhusan Behera said: "Our party president will take a stand on this issue after the Election Commission announces the dates."