100 days of BJP govt in Odisha: Lack of action on chargesheet against previous BJD govt?

Though the newly formed BJP government in Odisha has highlighted its various welfare activities and fulfilment of many promises given in their election manifesto in their report card after completing 100 days of governance, the people of the State are still waiting for stringent action against the corruption and irregularities during the last 24-year tenure of the previous government. Especially, discussions are doing the rounds about the chargesheet that BJP had brought against BJD before the 2024 General Election.

The main issue raised by the BJP was about 5T Chairman VK Pandian. BJP had termed Pandian as the kingpin of hijacking the governance to encourage corruption, to spend huge amounts of money from the State exchequer to politically launch himself and tour across the state in choppers.

No doubt, the BJP has fulfilled many of its promises. However, the people of Odisha are still waiting for action against the corruption and irregularities that occurred during the tenure of the previous government. 

In response, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari assured that investigation into the corruption activities that occurred in the past will also be carried out.

“The government has completed only 100 days. In whichever department evidence will be found about corruption, action will be taken and law will take its own course of action,” said Pujari.

Earlier before the election, the BJP had prepared a 60-page chargesheet with many criminal charges and corruption during the tenure of the BJD government and promised to take necessary actions if voted to power. 

While BJD organizational secretary Pranab Prakash Das’ name was linked to the sinking of the Black Rose ship, Dibya Shankar Mishra’s name surfaced in the Mamita Meher murder case. Similarly, the names of Pratap Jena and Arun Sahoo were linked with Mahanga double murder and Pari rape and murder cases respectively. BJD leader Srikant Sahu’s name was also included in the chargesheet for abusing a woman.

Moreover, BJP also mentioned about mining scam, chit fund scam, irregularities in the transformation of schools under the 5T initiative, Smart School scam, electricity scam and irregularities in the Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha initiative in the chargesheet. The saffron party had promised to take necessary actions against all the persons involved in the scams mentioned in the chargesheet.

According to political experts, apart from fulfilling the promises given before the election, the government should also take action pertaining to the irregularities mentioned in their chargesheet. Otherwise, the BJP may be pushed onto the back foot.

“BJP has taken many important decisions about development activities and there is nothing wrong to mention about it. However, the ruling party should not also forget about their promise to take action against irregularities during the 24-year tenure of BJD. If BJP becomes complacent and doesn’t take aggressive actions over the matter, people will never forgive the party,” said senior journalist, Prasanna Mohanty.