The 45th general body meeting of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), held at Ekamra Hall, turned into a scene of intense political drama and heated exchanges.
Chaired by Mayor Sulochana Das, the session was marred by sharp councilor protests over sanitation tenders and an explosive controversy involving live broadcasting from inside the house.
The commotion reached a boiling point when Ward No. 37 Councilor Bandita Pal began streaming the proceedings live on Facebook, raising direct questions about administration policies. Mayor Sulochana Das, BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana, and several councilors immediately objected, noting that live-streaming official council proceedings violates established house rules.
When Pal refused to end the stream, several councilors staged a walkout in protest. To restore order, Mayor Das invoked Section 114(5) of the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act to suspend Bandita Pal from the session. However, Pal defied the order and remained seated in the hall.
Pal sharply questioned the legality of her suspension, arguing that the Mayor lacks the authority to suspend an elected representative who is simply demanding answers on behalf of the public. She leveled serious allegations of corruption against BMC officials regarding street lighting, electrical work, and sanitation tenders.
Furthermore, Pal alleged that land designated for a ward office was handed over to a private builder through an undisclosed deal involving senior BMC officials, claiming the Mayor was also involved. She accused the corporation of withholding key resolutions from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Housing and Urban Development Department.
Parallel to the live-stream controversy, BJD councilors staged a demonstration near the podium over unresolved sanitation and street lighting issues across various wards. Responding to the concerns, Commissioner Chanchal Rana explained that while the tender process for hiring new sanitation agencies is complete, it awaits final state government approval. The protest quieted after the Mayor and Commissioner committed to resolving the issue within 10 days.
Despite the disruptions, the council observed two minutes of silence to mourn the passing of Ward No. 4 Councilor Sukumar Sahu. The meeting also covered standing committee approvals, past minutes, and operational proposals. Mayor Das expressed gratitude to officials after representatives from other states praised Bhubaneswar’s roads and sanitation during Urban Conclave 2026, urging councilors to fast-track pending development projects as their terms near completion.
