The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has begun its month-long Jan Sampark Padayatra across Odisha, with party president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik launching the programme in Bhubaneswar.
The statewide outreach campaign will continue until November 2, with BJD leaders and workers scheduled to organise padayatras at the headquarters of the party’s organisational districts, as well as across blocks, municipalities, NACs and municipal corporations.
The party has said the campaign will focus on taking its message to the grassroots and connecting with people through door-to-door outreach.
The BJD is expected to highlight what it describes as shortcomings of the BJP government in Odisha, while also presenting its account of the achievements of its previous government.
Among the key issues being raised by the Opposition party is the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026. The BJD has opposed the amendments, arguing that they could affect Odisha’s rights and revenue from its mineral resources. Naveen Patnaik had also led a BJD protest against the legislation in Bhubaneswar on September 28.
The party also plans to raise issues concerning law and order, farmers’ concerns and alleged atrocities against women during its statewide outreach.
At the launch of the campaign, Patnaik accused the BJP government of failing on several fronts and urged party workers to take the message of the BJD’s campaign to villages and households across Odisha. These are political claims made by the BJD and are not independent findings.
The BJP has rejected such criticism. Responding to Patnaik’s remarks on the MMDR issue, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal accused the BJD of using the issue for political purposes and disputed the party’s claims.
The Jan Sampark Padayatra comes ahead of the expected Panchayat and urban local body elections in Odisha. The BJD has previously directed its leaders and workers to strengthen the party’s grassroots network and prepare for the next electoral cycle.
Through the month-long programme, the regional party plans to intensify its organisational outreach and gather feedback from people at the local level while taking up issues it considers central to the political discourse in the State.
