Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lashed out at Odisha’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government on Thursday terming the new Assembly and Lok Seva Bhawan project as a diversionary tactic amid public anger over alleged governance failures, economic distress and stalled welfare schemes.
At a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD leaders alleged that the state refused to provide a bonus of Rs 800 to all farmers, but has committed to spending Rs 3,623 crore on the new buildings without clarity on budgetary provisions. BJD leaders levelled accusation that the government is more interested in contracts and commissions from construction than in solving people’s problems.
BJD spokespersons Gautam Buddha Das and Lenin Mohanty said the BJP government’s justification of seat expansion after delimitation is misleading, as no official clarity has been provided. They further accused the BJP government of worsening Odisha’s financial condition in just 18 months, citing rising debt levels from Rs 78,000 crore in 2024 to Rs 91,000 crore currently.
They also highlighted stalled projects such as the AIIMS Plus initiative, which had progressed under the previous government but has seen little advancement since.
The BJD leaders accused the government of ignoring pressing issues such as farmers’ distress, law and order concerns, and the state’s economic slowdown. They said that while citizens struggle with problems like pollution certificates, pensions, ration cards and stalled welfare schemes, the government is prioritizing construction projects that serve no immediate public need.
The opposition party added that lakhs of beneficiaries are still awaiting pensions, ration cards, and inclusion in welfare schemes like Subhadra Yojana. Teachers, doctors and Anganwadi workers continue to protest for fair wages, while tribal students under the Anwesha scheme have not received financial assistance for 5 months.
The BJD maintained that the new Assembly and Lok Seva Bhawan project is unnecessary at this time and is being used as a political tool to mask governance failures.
