Odisha at the Crossroads: BJP’s Bold Promises, BJD’s Fierce Opposition, and the Battle for 2029

Bhubaneswar, June 2025: After 24 years of BJD rule, Odisha witnessed a political earthquake when the BJP won the 2024 Assembly elections with 78 seats. With three independents joining, the BJP now holds 81 seats in the 147-member assembly. Santali tribal leader and Keonjhar MLA Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in as the state’s first tribal Chief Minister on June 12, 2024.

As the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government nears its one-year milestone, it highlights key achievements such as:

• Subhadra Yojana: Launched on September 17, 2024, by PM Narendra Modi, the scheme promises ₹50,000 over five years to over one crore women. By November, 20 lakh women had already received the third instalment.

• Puri Ratnabhandar Reopening: Meeting a decades-old demand, the government reopened all four gates of Jagannath Temple on June 13, 2024, and resumed inspection of the Ratnabhandar.

• Ayushman Bharat (AB PM-JAY): Rolled out in April 2025, covering 1.3 crore families with ₹5 lakh cashless healthcare—an initiative previously rejected by the BJD.

• Farmer Schemes: The minimum support price (MSP) for paddy increased to ₹3,100 per quintal. The CM-KISAN scheme and Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Yojana (₹5,000 aid to tribal students) were also introduced.

• Investment Push: At the NITI Aayog meet in May, CM Majhi promoted Odisha Vision 2036 and claimed ₹16.73 lakh crore in investment proposals through the Utkarsh Odisha Investors’ Conclave.

The BJP also renamed several legacy schemes, such as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) now called Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana, sparking a debate on rebranding versus innovation.

BJD Strikes Back: Broken Promises and Cultural Concerns

However, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD), under Naveen Patnaik, is mounting fierce resistance. Nayagarh MLA Arun Sahu alleges that Odisha is under a “remote-control” administration. He criticizes:

• Rising crimes and weakening law and order.

• Subhadra Yojana’s delayed payouts—from 2 years to 5 years.

• The BJP’s “failure” on OBC reservation.

• Cosmetic scheme rebranding with little originality.

Former minister Ms. Patra defended BSKY, which offers up to ₹10 lakh in insurance per woman—more than Ayushman Bharat, she said. She further slammed BJP for allegedly “suppressing media voices.”

Public Opinion and the Road Ahead

Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) show a divided public. Some praise government schemes and temple reforms, while others question transparency and delivery.

As BJP prepares to release the Vision 2036 document aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, Odisha remains at a political crossroads. The ruling party hopes to sustain its momentum, while the BJD is betting on grassroots outreach and public discontent.

The 2029 Odisha Assembly elections may still be years away, but the battle lines are clearly drawn.