Politics intensifies after BJD, Congress boycott MLA orientation programme in Odisha Assembly

The two-day orientation programme for the newly-elected MLAs of Odisha on Saturday courted controversy as the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress boycotted it protesting the invitation to a Union minister to the event.

As per reports, the event named “Gyan Sanskar Karykram’ was inaugurated by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on the State Assembly premises today.

Rijiju urged the legislators to become the best by putting up good performances in the Assembly. He advised the MLAs not to try to make headlines and be long-race horses. He also requested the legislators to keep discipline in the House.

“I shared my experience with the legislators. The legislators and parliamentarians have to be very disciplined, committed and hardworking. Dignity is important in any field and it should be maintained,” said Rijiju.

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi also shared his experience on how he became a Chief Minister from Sarpanch in the programme conducted by Speaker Surama Padhy. He gave useful tips regarding the role of the legislators in the ruling party, how to counter the Opposition leaders in a constructive manner. He also urged the MLAs to participate in various debates in the House. Meanwhile, Padhy addressed the MLAs on different rules and proceedings of the Assembly.

“The programme will be definitely useful for the MLAs. They will be good leaders and speakers in the future and put up good performances in future after getting knowledge about the rules and proceedings of the Assembly,” said Odisha Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mukesh Mahaling.

“We learnt about different proceedings of the Assembly. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s address was very useful,” said Pallahara MLA Ashok Mohanty.

Meanwhile, politics intensified after BJD and Congress boycotted the programme. Though Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik and senior BJD leader Ranendra Pratap Swain were scheduled to address one session each, they didn’t turn up. Moreover, BJD is planning to provide separate training to its MLAs at its headquarters, the Sankha Bhawan.

“If any other person from outside the House addresses the Assembly in the presence of the Chief Minister and the Speaker, it hurts the dignity of the House. Hence, BJD MLAs didn’t attend the programme. We are planning to conduct an orientation programme for the BJD MLAs at Sankha Bhawan on August 25,” said Deputy Chief Whip of the Opposition party, Pratap Deb.

“We don’t have any issue if the Union Minister addresses the orientation programme. However, we protest the inauguration of the programme by the Union Minister. He is demeaning the dignity of the Assembly in the process,” said Congress leader Ashok Das.

In response, the BJP said that the issue is unnecessarily being politicized.

“Certificates are provided in schools. If they feel that they will get certificates by reading in tuition, I don’t feel it is correct. Everybody knows who is giving tuition to them. If they will try to work against Odia ‘Asmita’ again, people of Odisha are fully aware of it,” said BJP leader Babu Singh.