Bhubaneswar: With the first session of 17th Odisha Assembly expected to be stormy as the Opposition BJD is planning to corner the state government over several issues, including Rath Yatra mismanagement, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday called on Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik at his residence in Bhubaneswar and invited him to an all-party meeting.
He was accompanied by Deputy CM K V Singhdeo.
“The Odisha Assembly session will begin tomorrow. The all-party meeting is scheduled for 11 am (on Sunday). Which is why CM Mohan Majhi visited the LoP and invited him for the meeting. He also requested him to attend the Assembly session on all days. The Mohan Majhi government will accept all constructive suggestions of the LoP for development of the state,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling told reporters.
According to official sources, at the all-party meeting Speaker Surama Padhi is likely to seek cooperation of all political parties in ensuring smooth functioning of the House. Government Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip will be appointed before the all-party meeting.
On Saturday, the BJD legislature party chalked out its strategies for the upcoming session, which has 27 sitting days. Naveen advised his party legislators to work for safeguarding the interest of the state and its 4.5 crore people. He asked the MLAs to raise the mismanagement in Rath Yatra, the assault on an assistant section officer by Governor Raghubar Das’ son Lalit Kumar and the unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities during the session.
The BJD has 51 MLAs in the 147-member Assembly.
Naveen also asked the MLAs to oppose the schemes renaming spree by the present government while reminding it about its electoral promise of Muft Bijli Yojana by providing solar panels to urban and rural households.
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Noting that the regional party has been given a new responsibility by the people, the meeting resolved that BJD will discharge its duty as an effective Opposition.
Stressing upon 100 per cent attendance in the Assembly, the LoP also asked the MLAs to keep a close watch on the functioning of the government department-wise in tune with the responsibility entrusted on them.
Naveen also announced that the first-time MLAs in the party will be given training to ensure their effective participation in the House proceedings.
