Bhubaneswar: The Budget session of the Odisha Assembly, beginning Tuesday with the address of Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, is likely to witness noisy scenes as the opposition BJD and Congress are gearing up to challenge the ruling BJP government on multiple fronts, including alleged irregularities in paddy procurement and the longstanding Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh.
The session will be held in two phases – the first phase from February 17 to 24, and the second phase from March 9 to April 8. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who holds the Finance portfolio, will present the budget for 2026-27 on February 20. The general discussion on the budget will take place on February 23 and 24.
Addressing a meeting of BJD legislators on Monday, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik called on party MLAs to relentlessly raise issues of farmers’ distress, low budget utilisation, deteriorating law and order, and unresolved Mahanadi water dispute. He accused the “double-engine” BJP government of prioritising slogans and publicity stunts over real governance. He highlighted that farmers are facing procurement delays, illegal deductions, subsidy limits, and distress sales, emphasising their grievances should be strongly voiced in the Assembly.
He also criticised the BJP regime’s performance, pointing out that budget expenditure had reached only about 47% by December.
Naveen said the party would use every parliamentary tool — questions, walkouts, and protests — to force accountability.
Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam announced plans to spotlight farmers’ hardships, the Mahanadi and Polavaram projects, and rising atrocities against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, and minorities. “The Congress MLAs will raise the social justice issues like caste row at an Anganwadi centre in Kendrapada district,” he said.
Following the BJP Legislature Party chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to finalise its strategy, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that the government is prepared to face the opposition on all issues and will present initiatives and progress made during its 19 months in power.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive three-tier security arrangement has been put in place at the Odisha Legislative Assembly with over 35 platoons of police and specialised units deployed to ensure smooth and incident-free proceedings. Additionally, one platoon of Special Operations Group (SOG) commandos, bomb disposal squads, fire service personnel and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) are positioned at seven key locations. Plain-clothes officers have also been deployed to watch for any suspicious behaviour.
Section 144 prohibitory orders will be in force in the sensitive Lower PMG area to prevent unlawful gatherings, while CCTV surveillance will maintain continuous monitoring of the Assembly complex and its vicinity.
