BJD Holds Protest Rally as BJP Govt Marks One Year in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, June 12 : The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday staged a protest rally in Bhubaneswar against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha, which marked its first anniversary in office.

Led by party MPs, MLAs, and senior leaders, the BJD activists gathered at Master Canteen Square, holding handwritten placards and raising slogans against Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Protesters accused the BJP of being a “colour-changing and name-changing government,” criticizing what they called superficial governance and rebranding of previous schemes.

The protest rally, which was headed toward Lower PMG Square, was intercepted by police, leading to a brief scuffle. Several BJD leaders, including former ministers Prafulla Samal and Arun Kumar Sahoo, were taken into preventive custody, according to police sources. They were later released.

The demonstration was seen as a show of strength by the BJD, which had ruled Odisha for over two decades before the BJP came to power in 2024. The party claimed the current government has failed to deliver on its promises during its first year in office.

Meanwhile, the BJP government observed the day by launching the Vikas Bahan Yatra, an outreach campaign aimed at showcasing the government’s achievements and connecting citizens with welfare schemes across the state.

Tensions between the two political rivals continue to mount as both parties gear up for upcoming urban local body elections.