BJD Accuses Odisha Govt of Undermining Local Democracy, Plans Assembly Gherao

Protest to Be Held on September 23

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has announced a large-scale protest outside the Odisha Legislative Assembly on September 23, opposing what the party calls the systematic curtailment of powers of the state’s Panchayati Raj representatives.

Allegations of Power Grab by Bureaucrats

At a press conference in Bhubaneswar, senior BJD leaders Debi Prasad Mishra, Pramila Mallik, and Arun Sahoo accused the state government of stripping sarpanchs, ward members, samiti and zilla parishad members, block chairpersons, and district council presidents of their rightful powers. They argued that these moves undermine the principle of devolution and weaken local self-governance.

Grassroots Support Expected

The agitation is expected to receive backing from thousands of grassroots leaders across Odisha, including sarpanchs, ward members, block and district council chairpersons, and other elected representatives, reflecting widespread discontent with the government’s policies.

Key Grievances and Demands

The BJD has highlighted several specific issues:

• Amendments to Panchayat Samiti Accounting Procedure Rules have transferred financial and administrative powers from elected representatives to government officers, particularly Block Development Officers (BDOs).

• BDOs can now approve bills up to ₹10 lakh without the countersignature of the Panchayat Samiti chairperson.

• Budgets for Panchayati Raj have reportedly been cut, slowing down or reducing funds for programmes such as PM Awas Yojana and NREGS.

• Senior leaders claim that block chairpersons and zilla parishad members have been reduced to “rubber stamps”, with real authority concentrated in the hands of bureaucrats and district collectors.

The BJD argues that these changes contradict the spirit of the Panchayati Raj system, which was designed to empower local governance.

Political Reactions

While the BJD frames the protest as a fight to “save democracy and restore people’s rights”, the BJP has dismissed it as a political stunt. BJP legislator Tankadhar Tripathy accused the BJD of diverting public attention from real governance issues through agitation politics.

Legacy and Democratic Debate

The dispute has rekindled discussions on Biju Patnaik’s legacy, with BJD leaders asserting that the current government is undermining the democratic values and decentralisation championed by the late leader.

As September 23 approaches, Odisha’s political landscape is set for a confrontation between the BJD and BJP, with thousands of elected representatives preparing to voice their demands for grassroots democracy at the Assembly.