Congress Demands Odisha Health Minister’s Resignation Over Cholera Outbreak

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, accusing him of failing to contain a cholera and diarrhoea outbreak that crossed 11 districts and claimed more than 15 lives.

A fact-finding team led by Congress legislator C S Raazen Ekka, which recently visited affected areas, claimed the situation is far worse than official figures reveal. Ekka asserted the epidemic began in Jajpur district and has now spread widely, infecting over 12,000 people, according to party estimates.

“People are still drinking water from ponds and other natural sources as the government has failed to provide safe drinking water,” the team stated. Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja criticized Minister Mahaling, saying he was “busy with other things when people were dying” and therefore lacks “any moral right to continue in this post.”
theweek.in+1devdiscourse.com+1

Despite the opposition’s accusations, the Odisha government launched a statewide “Stop Diarrhea” campaign on June 16 under Minister Mahaling’s leadership. The initiative includes door-to-door outreach, distribution of ORS and zinc, and heightened hygiene awareness, with health officials confirming that cholera vibrio has been identified as the causative organism.

Minister Mahaling personally visited Jajpur and other hotspots, urging residents to seek treatment at health centres instead of relying on unqualified practitioners. He also emphasized water-source disinfection and active monitoring of contacts.