BJD Not Allowing Odisha Assembly To Function As A Strategy: Jayanarayan Mishra

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra on Sunday alleged that BJD was not allowing the House to function as a strategy.

While the first day of the monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Thursday was adjourned after obituary references to Rajendra Dholakia, who was the Nuapada MLA, and six other former members, pandemonium prevailed on the following two days as the BJD continued its protest over the fertiliser crisis in the state.

The two-time Sambalpur MLA claimed the regional party is following instructions from a “super leader” and their sole intention is to block proceedings. “They have been stalling the House instead of moving a motion to discuss the issue. They are avoiding a structured debate. Even senior BJD leaders admit that they are obeying directives to disrupt the House,” he alleged.

Mishra said that the other opposition party, Congress, has already moved an adjournment motion over the fertiliser issue. “If BJD members were really serious about the issue, they would have participated in the discussion,” he said.

He further added that this is part of the ongoing battle between BJD and Congress, which has submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against the 15-month-old BJP government in the state, to position themselves as the principal opposition party in Odisha. “The fight is for the silver and bronze medals,” he said.

The BJD members also met governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, seeking his intervention in the interest of farmers. The party will also gherao the Odisha Assembly on September 23 over alleged “systematic curtailment” of powers of elected representatives under the Panchayati Raj system.

The state has witnessed a tectonic shift in its political landscape since then. While Mohan Charan Majhi was a surprise pick of the BJP as its first Chief Minister in Odisha, the BJD found itself as the main Opposition after ruling the state for decades. While the regional party had in the past raised issues like OBC reservation and crimes against women, it failed to target the government directly.

The Congress, on the other hand, has appeared more organised in recent times, stalling Assembly proceedings in March with 12 of its legislators being suspended for seven days and aggressively taking to the streets over women safety.