BJD to corner Odisha govt on MMDR Act, textbook errors and farmers’ plight

Bhubaneswar: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday said it will raise several issues, including the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, price rise, the law-and-order situation and alleged errors in school textbooks during the upcoming monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

The party decided at the BJD Legislative Party meeting held here on Monday ahead of the session, with party president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik presiding.

During the meeting, Patnaik asked party MLAs to highlight the double-engine government's failures, with a particular focus on the recently passed MMDR Amendment Act, the textbook-printing blunder, and the plight of farmers in the state.

Addressing legislators, Patnaik said failure had become the hallmark of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

“There are many issues, starting from the deteriorating law-and-order situation, to failure in flood management, price rise, poor fiscal management and low budget expenditure. But our major focus will be the MMDR Amendment Act, the textbook printing blunder and the plight of farmers in the state,” he said.

He added that the MMDR Amendment Act had taken away the state's rights over its land and resources and destroyed the dreams of youth. “BJD will fight till the state gets back its rights,” he asserted.

On the printing blunders found in school textbooks, Patnaik said the government must take responsibility for such a colossal mistake, and the minister in charge should resign.

He also mentioned the farmers’ plight over the non-availability of fertilisers and seeds, and irregularities in paddy procurement.

Besides, the BJD president pointed to the recently announced UPI charges and the alleged deletion of genuine voters from the electoral list during the state's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Notably, the seventh session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin on September 22 and continue until October 3.

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