Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said that they would continue to raise its demand before the Centre for special category status.

"We have always demanded special category status for Odisha and are doing so again," said Naveen during filing of nomination papers for Rajya Sabha polls by party candidates at the Assembly here on Friday.

The statement assumes significance in the wake of the Telugu Desam Party snapping ties with the NDA over the special category state demand for Andhra Pradesh. The BJD has been demanding the status since its birth in 1997, even during its alliance with the BJP in the last decade.

Naveen had recently reiterated the state's demand for special category status at a meeting with NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar at the secretariat here last week.

On Thursday, BJD Parliamentary Party leader Bhartruhari Mahtab had said the state government would intensify its demand for the special category state status if the Centre granted the same to Andhra Pradesh. "I am sure that all the three BJD candidates for the Rajya Sabha will speak strongly for the interests of Odisha," Naveen said.

Educator-turned-politician Achyuta Samanta said: "I will continue to raise issues related to education and welfare of backward communities since I have been in that field for more than 25 years."

Former MP and media house owner Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said: "I will at least try to raise issues that I think needs attention for the long term development of Odisha."

BJD spokesperson Prasanta Nanda said: "The Centre's negligence towards Odisha will continue to be our main agenda."