As the Odisha Legislative Assembly prepares to commence its Monsoon Session, political tempers are running high following conflicting statements from the ruling BJP and the Opposition post the all-party meeting convened by Speaker Surama Padhy.
While the government has assured its readiness to debate six upcoming bills and key state concerns, Opposition parties—the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress—have threatened to corner the administration on major issues including the MMDR Act amendment, the Mahanadi river water dispute, and textbook errors.
Government Ready for Any Discussion, Says Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that discussions centred around the smooth functioning of the House. He confirmed that six bills are slated for introduction during the nine-day session.
“Whatever public interest issues or questions regarding the MMDR Act the Opposition brings forward, we are ready to discuss them. The discussions will proceed according to the Speaker’s decisions. The government will debate any matter concerning the state’s interests.”
— Mukesh Mahaling, Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Opposition Demands Debate on MMDR Losses and Textbook Errors
The Opposition expressed dissatisfaction with routine assurances, making it clear that their cooperation in running the House hinges on whether key public interest matters are taken up for debate.
Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik (BJD) emphasised that the party has formally requested an exclusive discussion on the potential losses Odisha faces due to the MMDR Act amendment.
“We raised the issue of losses suffered by Odisha on MMDR and asked for a proper discussion. We are waiting to see how it is handled. Further action will depend on our party’s decision, including whether or not we will co-operate in running the House.”
— Pramila Mallik, Opposition Chief Whip (BJD)
Congress MLA Ashok Das echoed similar sentiments, stating that the all-party meeting was a traditional formality. He noted that Congress would aggressively raise issues regarding the MMDR Act and recently reported errors in school textbooks, demanding immediate parliamentary time for these topics.
“Triple-Engine Government” Under Fire Over Mahanadi Dispute
The Opposition turned up the heat on the ruling BJP over the long-standing Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh, taking sharp jabs at the state and central political alignment.
| Leader | Party | Key Statement on Mahanadi Dispute |
| Pramila Mallik | BJD | “With a triple-engine government in place, this could be resolved in a day or two if there was genuine intent. Instead, they are stalling with endless, empty discussions.” |
| Ashok Das | Congress | “It is sad that despite a triple-engine government, no concrete decision has been made in the public interest. Mahanadi remains trapped in meetings without a solution. We will raise this forcefully.” |
With the government standing firm on its legislative agenda and the Opposition preparing a multi-front assault over mining, water rights, and education errors, the upcoming assembly session promises high-voltage debates from day one.
