Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Legislative Assembly is set to begin its winter session on Tuesday, on a stormy note with Opposition BJD, Congress and ruling BJP sharpening arsenals to attack each other over several issues.
The assembly debates are likely to be intense, with both sides preparing for robust arguments on governance, accountability, and public welfare. Tragic deaths of four individuals in Kandhamal district due to mango kernel consumption, a consequence of alleged disruptions in the public food distribution system, alarming rise in sexual violence against women and minors and accusations of political misuse of police forces, are likely to dominate the proceedings.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, who is also the Finance Minister, will present the supplementary budget for the 2024-25 financial year on the first day, which is expected to shrink as compared to previous financial years amid low spending by several departments.
Majhi had presented a budget of Rs 2.65 lakh crore in July.
While Speaker Surama Padhy chaired an all-party meeting on Monday to set the agenda, the ruling BJP and the opposition BJD and Congress, also held separate strategy meetings to finalise their approaches for the session.
“Since coming to power, this government has failed to protect women and children while neglecting essential food distribution schemes. We cannot overlook the loss of four precious lives in Kandhamal, which reflects their administrative failure. Even though the chief minister belongs to the tribal community, tribals are tortured and provided no justice in the state. The government is answerable to those who elected them,” BJD chief whip Pramila Mallick said following a meeting of the legislative party, chaired by LoP Naveen Patnaik.
Echoing similar concerns, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ramachandra Kadam declared said the party MLAs would raise issues like Kandhamal food crisis, unemployment, price rise and the state’s deteriorating law and order situation. “From ration delays forcing individuals to eat mango kernels to the escalating threat to women’s safety, this government has failed to deliver. We will demand answers on these pressing matters,” he said.
The ruling BJP, which also had its legislative party meeting, is prepared to take on the opposition. “We will highlight the achievements of our government in the last five months, including 80 lakh beneficiaries under the Subhadra Yojana, increased MSP of paddy,” said Mukesh Mahaling, adding that the meeting also discussed the bills to be tabled in the winter session.
Meanwhile, the police have made a three-lawyer security arrangements in and around the state assembly for the session. Around 30 platoons of police force along with 300 police officers under the supervision of DCP Bhubaneswar will look after the security during the session, Odisha DGP YB Khurania said.