TV
Ruling BJP will face a tough challenge when the first session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly gets underway from Monday. Opposition BJD is reportedly fully ready to corner the saffron party over various issues.
On Saturday, BJD convened a meeting under the chairmanship of party president Naveen Patnaik to chalk out its strategies for the upcoming Assembly session.
As per sources, BJD’s focus will be on whether the BJP is keeping its promises made in the election manifesto or not. Besides, BJD has also planned to launch scathing attacks on the saffron party over various issues like the mishap during the ‘Adapa Pahandi’ of Lord Balabhadra, the row over the alleged assault on a government servant by the Governor’s son, rising inflation, BJP’s assurances regarding raising the MSP of paddy to Rs 3,100 per quintal and 300 unit of free electricity.
Meanwhile, BJP has also prepared a strategy to counter BJD. Deliberations were made on how to counter the attack by the Opposition party in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday.
As per sources, BJP will highlight their various successful initiatives like- the opening of all four doors of Srimandir, opening of Ratna Bhandar and starting the process for the implementation of Subhadra Yojna, undertaken in the last 40 days. Moreover, they have prepared a special strategy to counter BJD by preparing a list of failures by the previous BJD government in the last 24 years.
“As the Opposition, we will counter the ruling party for the better interest of the people of Odisha. We will keep a vigil on the ruling party so that it doesn’t derail from its aim. We will play a constructive role as an Opposition party,” said deputy leader of the Opposition Pratap Deb.
“The newly formed BJP government has already fulfilled three promises assured in its election manifesto. Our government is fully ready to counter any kind of attack by the Opposition,” said BJP leader Prakash Soren.
To prepare their strategy for the Assembly session, the Congress MLAs will hold a meeting on Monday, sources said.
Earlier on the day, Chief Minister Majhi met Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik in a rare gesture and requested him to attend the all-party meeting. Though the former Chief Minister reportedly skipped the meeting, Chief Whip of Opposition Pramila Mallik attended the congregation. Majhi also requested Patnaik to be present during all the working days of the upcoming session and give his constructive suggestions. He also assured Patnaik that BJP will accept all of his constructive suggestions.
The all-party meeting was held under the chairmanship of Speaker Surama Padhy. Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahalinga and senior BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra were present in the meeting. However, Congress MLAs didn’t attend the meeting.
Later, clarifying the development, senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “Congress MLAs could not attend the meeting as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party was not decided before the meeting.”
