BJD calls Salepur bandh over exclusion from NAC list, BJP slams ‘political stunt’

A dawn-to-afternoon shutdown paralysed Salepur in Cuttack district on Tuesday after the town was excluded from the state government’s latest list of proposed Notified Area Councils (NACs).

The bandh, called by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), witnessed large-scale participation from party workers and residents who blocked the Cuttack–Chandbali highway at Kuapal Chhak under the leadership of local MLA Prashant Behera.

Protest Brings Salepur To A Halt

Sources reported that shops, markets, schools, and colleges remained closed throughout the bandh. Demonstrators staged road blockades and raised slogans demanding NAC status for Salepur.

The protest disrupted traffic on the busy highway, leaving vehicles stranded for several hours. According to the BJD protestors, Salepur’s growing population and urban spread make its omission from the NAC list unjustified.

"The people of Salepur have been demanding an NAC status since the 1980s. 40 years later, their wish was granted by Naveen Patnaik. Unfortunately, the current Odisha government undid that progress and announced the format of 12 new NACs, but did not include Salepur. In protest, the BJD, along with the local people, has launched a strike,” said Salepur BJD MLA Prasanta Behera.

BJP slams ‘Stunt’

Meanwhile, the BJP dismissed the agitation as politically motivated. Leaders of the ruling party alleged that the BJD was trying to deflect attention from governance issues by resorting to street protests.

"The BJD government was in power for 24 years. In all those years, they only made announcements and celebrated progress made on paper. However, the double-engine BJP government is working hard to fulfil this promise. In total,21 NACs will be formed, and only 12 have been announced. Salepur will be included in the next list. The BJD is only protesting for the sake of politics,” said Satyabadi Chaini, State BJP Kisan Morcha Secretary.

Government’s NAC Notification

Notably, the Housing and Urban Development Department recently announced the creation of 12 new NACs across seven districts. These include Pallahara in Angul, Simulia and Basta in Balasore, Betnoti and Bangiriposi in Mayurbhanj, Bissam Cuttack in Rayagada, Bamra and Rengali in Sambalpur, and Tihidi and Dhusuri in Bhadrak.

The expansion is part of a broader plan to set up 21 NACs across Odisha to improve local governance in fast-urbanising regions.