Bhubaneswar, Feb. 25: Demands for the Centre to posthumously honour former chief minister Harekrushna Mahatab with the Bharat Ratna is gathering pace despite the Union government not conceding to the state government's demand for the honour for Biju Patnaik.

Mahatab is considered as one of the makers of modern Odisha and his followers have been seeking the country's highest civilian honour for him in light of his contribution to the state. Mahatab's son Bhartruhari is the BJD's leader in the Lok Sabha.

The demand for Bharat Ratna for Mahatab, known as "Utkal Keshari", has gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recalled his contribution to the development of the state during his speech in Paradip on February 7.

Mahatab was Odisha's first chief minister from 23 April 1946 to 12 May 1950. He also served as the Union minister of commerce and industry from 1950 to 1952 in Jawahar Lal Nehru's government and had a stint as the governor of undivided Maharashtra. He became the chief minister of Odisha for a second time in 1956 and served till 1960.

The Rajya Yuba Samukhya Samiti today advocated Ratna for Mahatab.

Pitambar Jena, a samiti member, said: "The state has so far ignored Mahatab, who has contributed much more to the state's development compared to others. It is because of Mahatab that the merger of princely states with the Indian Union took place. He was even imprisoned during the freedom movement."

However, Bhartruhari's initial reaction was to avoid the issue rather curtly. "Why are you putting this question to me?" he shot back. But on a second thought, he said that conferring an award on a great person after his death had little meaning.

During his tenure as the chief minister, Mahatab had shifted the capital from Cuttack to Bhubaneshwar and materialised the Hirakud dam project.

Jena said: "Mahatab had taken steps to set up Paradip port. Later Biju babu turned his dream into reality."

Asked if the Ratna demand for Mahatab will dilute the same demand for Biju babu, samiti secretary Abhaya Badajena said: "There are many states where six to eight people have been conferred with the honour. Both Mahatab and Biju babu should be given the Bharat Ratna."

The samiti's working committee member Ajay Jena said: "The Assembly should pass a resolution demanding Bharat Ratna for Mahatab as has been done in case of Biju babu. But all should remember that we are not opposing Bharat Ratna for Biju babu. We demand the country's highest civilian honour be conferred on both of them."