The opposition parties in Odisha, primarily the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, have ramped up their criticism of the BJP-led state government over the increasing incidents of crimes against women.
Both parties have taken to the streets and employed various protest strategies to highlight their concerns, with discussions around a potential no-confidence motion against the ruling government gaining momentum in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President, Bhakta Charan Das, has challenged the BJD to bring a no-confidence motion against the government, assuring Congress’s support. “If BJD, which claims to champion women’s safety, brings a no-confidence motion, we will support it. Alternatively, if Congress moves such a motion in the Assembly, we urge BJD to back us,” Das stated during a press conference at Congress Bhawan on Wednesday. He accused the government of failing to protect women, citing incidents like the alleged burning of a female student in Balangir, which even drew remarks from the Supreme Court expressing shame over the state’s situation. Das emphasised that the government has “no moral right” to remain in power and called for its resignation, threatening to “force them out” if necessary.
In response, senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra clarified that the party has always prioritised women’s dignity and rights. “BJD has consistently fought for women’s empowerment under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik. We condemn violence against women and have protested such incidents,” Mishra said. He added that no official notification for a no-confidence motion has been issued yet, and any decision would be taken by the party’s president in a legislators’ meeting once the Assembly session is formally announced. Mishra reiterated BJD’s commitment to women’s safety, stating that the party, as Odisha’s largest political force, continues to advocate for justice.
The exchange has heated up Odisha’s political landscape, with the opposition’s aggressive stance drawing sharp reactions from the ruling party. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who is on Delhi visit and met the family of the Balanga victim, dismissed the opposition’s rhetoric as “daydreaming.” Defending the government’s record, she stated that swift action is being taken in all reported cases of violence against women. “The government ensures justice for victims. In the FM College incident, the accused were arrested, and suspensions were issued where allegations surfaced,” Parida said. She accused the opposition of politicising women’s safety for survival, contrasting the current administration’s proactive measures—such as immediate case registrations and field investigations by senior officials—with the alleged inaction during BJD’s 24-year rule. Parida, who previously led protests against the BJD government as the state Mahila Morcha president, claimed that cases were rarely registered back then.
With senior officials, including the DGP and IG, conducting field-level probes and leaders, including the Chief Minister and Union Ministers, meeting victims to express solidarity, the government insists it prioritises women’s safety.
However, the opposition’s call for a no-confidence motion and their public protests signal a fierce political battle ahead, keeping Odisha’s political arena on edge.
