Union minister Srikant Jena, who is from Odisha, has demanded the resignation of state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, following reports of an alleged iron ore mining scam. The Congress has alleged that Mr Patnaik allowed iron ore worth Rs. 2, 50,000 crore to be illegally mined; a lot of by private firms in excess of the contracted amount. Mr Patnaik's party, Biju Janata Dal, denied the allegations, attributing it to Mr Jena's "feeble attempts to stay in the limelight".