Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee workers held a 12-hour statewide shutdown on Thursday against the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026. While the Congress claimed the bandh got massive public support, the BJP said people rejected it. BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said, "the bandh call given by Congress and Left parties was completely rejected."
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) workers stage a 12-hour statewide shutdown, 'Odisha Bandh', against the implementation of the MMDR Amendment (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act, 2026, including action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter rolls and various other issues, in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.ANI
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Thursday claimed that the statewide bandh call given by INDIA bloc on Thursday was successful due to massive support from the public.
On the day, OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das and other senior Congress leaders participated in rallies at different places across the state in support of the bandh. Das said the INDIA alliance parties had informed people about the bandh much in advance and sought their cooperation.
He, however, took a dig at the BJD for refusing to participate in the bandh. "The BJD had initially indicated to participate but changed its position at the last moment. Had the BJD participated directly, the bandh could have been more impactful," the OPCC chief stated.
Das further said that in future when the BJD will agitate on any issue, the Congress will put forth its stand, but not take a U-turn like the former.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal told mediapersons that the bandh call given by Congress and Left parties was completely rejected by the people of Odisha.