The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has announced a major political agitation across the state, calling for a statewide bandh and a seven-day economic blockade following the Dussehra festival.
The protest is aimed against the newly enacted Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2026.
The decision was finalised during a high-level executive committee meeting of the party, where leaders unanimously adopted seven core resolutions. Framing their upcoming campaign under the unifying slogan “Not me, but us,” Congress leadership called for collective public action to safeguard the state’s natural resources.
According to reports, OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das outlined the party’s demands, emphasising the need for absolute transparency in the management and distribution of Odisha’s vast mineral wealth.
The Congress party raised several key demands, including:
- Statutory Clarity: Immediate public explanation and safeguards regarding the provisions of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026.
- Resource Protection: Proper, transparent management mechanisms for Odisha’s mineral deposits.
- Ministerial Resignation: The immediate resignation of Minister Nityananda Ganda over alleged mismanagement in the mining sector.
PCC Chief Bhakta Charan Das took aim at both the current ruling BJP administration and the former BJD government, alleging that both parties share equal blame for the systemic exploitation of Odisha’s mineral sector over the years.
He affirmed that the Congress party would continue to hold both political rivals strictly accountable for their roles in handling state resources.
The OPCC stated that specific dates for the proposed bandh, along with the schedule for the seven-day economic blockade, will be released shortly.
The state unit of the BJP has not yet issued an official response to the Congress announcement.
