Bhubaneswar: On the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Odisha Assembly, the Congress party submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against the state’s 15-month-old BJP government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. A delegation of Congress MLAs, headed by legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, met Assembly Secretary Satyabrata Rout to hand over the petition.
Invoking Rule 117(1) of the Assembly procedures, the notice stated, “That this House expresses no confidence in the present Council of Ministers led by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi.” Kadam told reporters that the petition was signed by 14 Congress MLAs and one member of the CPI(M). He explained that the Congress party’s decision came after the principal Opposition party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), did not make a similar move.
“We have submitted a notice to the Assembly secretary addressed to the Speaker and urged her to accept it for moving a no-confidence motion,” Kadam said. He also called on the BJD to support the Congress’s move, citing the regional party’s own criticisms of the government. “We have no hesitation to support the BJD if it separately brings a no-confidence motion against the BJP government,” he added, highlighting the shared concerns of both parties regarding the government’s performance.
Later, a Congress delegation attempted to meet with Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik but was unsuccessful as he was not present in his chamber. They instead spoke with two BJD MLAs to discuss the matter.
In response, BJD’s Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik said the Congress had not yet approached them directly. “Let them do what they are doing, the BJD will take its own decision,” she said.
Meanwhile, senior BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra ridiculed the Congress’s move, calling it a “laughing stock.” He pointed out that with only 14 MLAs, the Congress does not have the numbers to pose a threat to the government.
In the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the BJP holds a clear majority with 78 MLAs. The BJD has 50, Congress has 14, CPI(M) has one, and there are three Independents. One seat is currently vacant.