Odisha Opposition Slams Supplementary Budget as ‘Paper Exercise’ Amid Spending Woes

Leaders from both parties accused the BJP-led government of fiscal mismanagement, failing to execute existing budgets, and pushing the state toward bankruptcy.

BJD MLA Sarada Prasad Jena lambasted the supplementary allocation, calling it a mere “paper exercise” that masks the government’s inability to spend effectively. “This government is bankrupting Odisha again,” Jena said, highlighting that despite grand budget announcements, actual spending remains disappointing and development work shows no visible progress. He alleged that the administration is deceiving the public with inflated figures on paper while undermining the robust financial foundation built by the previous BJD regime.

Jena further pointed out issues in agriculture, claiming that the Rs 3,000 crore earmarked for paddy procurement is misleading farmers. “Paddy isn’t selling in the mandis, and farmers are suffering today,” he stated, accusing the government of relying on propaganda and empty promises to fool the people.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress chief whip and senior MLA CS Raazen Ekka criticised the government’s track record on expenditure. He noted that the original budget of Rs 2.90 lakh crore, presented in March, had seen only 39% utilisation by the end of October. “Most departments haven’t even submitted utilisation certificates,” Ekka said, questioning the rationale behind introducing a supplementary budget when previous allocations remain unspent.

Ekka also raised alarms over the state’s mounting debt, which has crossed Rs 1.35 lakh crore. “Despite such massive borrowing, there’s no development on the ground,” he remarked. He described the supplementary budget as lacking new schemes, merely reallocating funds to old programs in a “traditional drama” that endangers Odisha’s economic health.

The supplementary budget comes amid ongoing debates on fiscal discipline in the state, with the opposition urging greater accountability and transparency in government spending. The assembly session is expected to see further discussions on these allocations in the coming days.