By Sarat Paikray
The Odisha Congress, under the leadership of state president Bhakta Charana Das, has intensified its efforts to corner the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government. While the party seeks to display its political weight, recent controversies have provided it with ample ammunition. From the Puri Delanga incident to the tragic death of a girl student in Balasore, the BJP government has found itself embroiled in successive controversies over the past few months.
Taking advantage of this situation, Congress has ramped up its street protests and press briefings. Led by Bhakta Das, the party has been holding multiple press conferences daily to highlight the government’s failures. Now, Congress appears to be shifting gears and adopting a new strategy — moving or supporting a no-confidence motion against the state government in the upcoming Assembly session.
Though Congress does not have the numerical strength to oust the government on its own, and even a combined effort with the BJD may fall short of the numbers required, Bhakta Das has issued a strong political challenge. He has publicly called on the BJD — the principal opposition party in the Odisha Assembly — to move a no-confidence motion, promising Congress support.
Further escalating the political heat, Das declared that if the BJD hesitates to take the lead, Congress itself will table the motion and expect the BJD’s support. He added that if the BJD refuses both options, it must stop shedding crocodile tears on women’s safety issues and desist from public protests.
Currently, out of the total 147 seats in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the BJP holds 78, BJD 51, Congress 14, CPI(M) 1, and there are 3 Independent members. All three Independents are supporting the BJP, bringing the BJP’s effective strength to 81.
The BJD, meanwhile, has responded cautiously. Party vice president Debi Prasad Mishra said a decision on such matters would be taken only after the official notification for the Assembly session is released and discussions are held within the legislative party.
Although a no-confidence motion is unlikely to topple the government given the current strength in the Assembly, such a move is still considered a significant political event. Congress seems to have deliberately triggered this conversation to keep the pressure on the ruling BJP. All eyes are now on the upcoming Assembly session to see how the BJD responds to Bhakta Das’s challenge.
