Congress Moves No-Confidence Motion Against BJP Govt in Odisha, Seeks BJD Support

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 : The Opposition Congress on Wednesday moved a no-confidence motion against the BJP Government in Odisha on the first day of the monsoon session of the State Assembly, seeking support from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Soon after the House was adjourned for the day following the adoption of an obituary motion moved by Chief Minister and Leader of the House Mohan Charan Majhi, Congress MLAs led by Legislature Party Leader Ram Chandra Kadam submitted a no-confidence letter to the Assembly Secretary.

The letter, addressed to Speaker Surama Padhy, carried the signatures of all 14 Congress legislators and the lone CPI(M) member, Laxman Munda.

Later, Kadam, accompanied by senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, met senior BJD legislators in the chamber of Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, urging them to extend support to the motion. With 51 members in the 147-member House, the BJD holds the key to the motion’s fate, though the party has yet to clarify its stance as Patnaik is currently in Delhi.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das had earlier urged the BJD to bring a no-confidence motion against the BJP government over alleged rising atrocities against women, farmers’ issues, and governance failures. He assured that Congress would back such a move. However, he warned that if the BJD did not act, the Congress itself would take the initiative, which it did today.

Reacting to the development, senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra dismissed the motion, saying it would have no impact given Congress’s limited strength in the Assembly.

BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik told reporters that the Congress had not consulted them before moving the motion. While affirming that her party would continue to raise key issues in the Assembly, she declined to comment on whether the BJD would support the no-confidence motion.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders Kadam and Bahinipati urged the Speaker to admit the motion and allow a debate after the Question Hour on Thursday.