BJD to gherao Odisha Assembly on September 23 over Panchayati Raj issues

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday announced to gherao the Odisha Legislative Assembly on September 23. The agitation comes in protest against what the party alleges is the systematic curtailment of powers vested in people’s representatives under the Panchayati Raj system.

Addressing a press conference, senior BJD leaders Devi Mishra, Pramila Mallik, and Arun Sahoo said that elected representatives at the grassroots level are being stripped of their authority, undermining the spirit of decentralisation.

They claimed that such moves weaken democracy and go against the very foundation of the Panchayati Raj structure, which was introduced to empower local self-governance.

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Zilla Parishad chairpersons, block chairpersons, sarpanchs, and ward members from across the state are expected to join the demonstration.

On the other hand, BJP legislator Tankadhar Tripathy criticised the BJD’s call for protest, saying that such agitations are aimed at creating confusion among the people of Odisha. He alleged that instead of addressing real governance issues, the ruling party is trying to divert attention through agitation politics.