In a rare public outburst from within the ruling camp, Kantabanji MLA Laxman Bag has shot off a hard-hitting letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, openly accusing the government of deliberately ignoring his drought-hit constituency while favouring other segments of Balangir district.
Elected nearly 18 months ago, Bag says he feels “helpless” as a people’s representative. Despite repeatedly sending detailed proposals for irrigation, check dams, roads, bridges, drinking water schemes and urban development — all critical for the chronically dry region — most have been either ignored or quietly shelved.
The letter drops a bigger bombshell: several projects approved under the eOAN scheme in Turekela block villages were sanctioned, funds released, yet mysteriously returned through an alleged “administrative and political conspiracy.”
Bag claims this backdoor sabotage is now triggering public anger at the village level, as ordinary people watch their much-awaited development works vanish into thin air. Even though he belongs to the ruling party, Bag says his suggestions are being cold-shouldered from the district level right up to the state secretariat. He has also raised red flags over the sudden transfer of efficient officers without consulting him and the continued vacancy of the Executive Officer post in Kantabanji NAC despite repeated reminders.
“If elected representatives have to face such arbitrariness and conspiracies while trying to serve their people, then democracy, administration and the dignity of public representatives will have no meaning,” the MLA apprised the Chief Minister.
Bag has urged Majhi to treat the matter with utmost seriousness, launch a full investigation to expose the “hidden forces” behind the sabotage, and restore justice and respect to his office.
The Chief Minister’s Office has already forwarded the letter to the departments of Works, Water Resources, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, and Housing & Urban Development, demanding immediate action and an Action Taken Report.
In a swift follow-up, Under Secretary Pradeep Kumar Behera of the Water Resources Department has directed the Engineer-in-Chief to take urgent steps.
The development has triggered intense speculation in political circles about growing discontent among ruling party MLAs over uneven development and internal power play in western Odisha.
