Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Soliciting the support of the Biju Janata Dal, the Congress, on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA) has given notice for a no-confidence motion against the Mohan Majhi Government.Given the Congress’ strength in the House, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government faces no real threat. However, the motion is expected to pave the way for long hours of debate, with Opposition MLAs attempting to put the government on the defensive.“Odisha Pradesh Congress President had earlier said that if the BJD brought a no-confidence motion, the Congress would support it, and if the Congress moved one, it expected the regional party’s backing,” said Congress Legislature Party leader Ramachandra Kadam.Mr. Kadam, accompanied by party colleagues, went to the chamber of Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, who was absent. In his absence, the Congress delegation met senior BJD leaders Pratap Deb and Sarada Jena.“We 14 Congress MLAs and the lone CPI(M) MLA have signed a letter and submitted it to the Speaker, seeking permission to move a no-confidence motion against the present government,” said senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.He added that it was the Speaker’s prerogative to allow the discussion on the no-confidence motion after Question Hour on any day during the monsoon session.In the 147-member House, the Congress has 14 MLAs and the support of one CPI(M) legislator. The BJD, which had won 51 seats in the last Assembly election, is now reduced to 50 following the death of its Nuapada MLA. The BJP, however, remains comfortably placed with 78 members, backed by three independents.BJP members ridiculed the Congress move, pointing out that the party does not even have one-tenth of the House’s strength. “By seeking permission for this motion, the Congress has made itself a laughing stock before the public,” said BJP MLA Babu Singh.Senior BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra added, “the no-confidence motion is nothing more than a race for the silver medal in the eyes of the people of Odisha.”Congress said, “Odisha today is ranked first in the country in terms of crimes against women, recording the highest number of such incidents. There is not a single district in the State where such grave crimes against women have not taken place. From school students to elderly women and homemakers, all have fallen victim to these heinous crimes. Women in Odisha are completely unsafe.”“Alongside this, the condition of farmers in the State has become extremely precarious. The government has completely failed to curb black marketing of fertilizers. Similarly, education and healthcare services have collapsed. In the last fifteen months, not a single recruitment examination has been conducted properly. The government is playing with the future of lakhs of students. In view of all these issues, the Congress has given notice to bring a no-confidence motion,” it added.. Published - September 18, 2025 04:58 pm IST
