BJP Announces To Boycott Odisha Assembly Speaker's Election

Bhubaneswar: The BJP has chosen not to participate in the Odisha Assembly Speaker election, which is set on September 21, the day following the Nuakhai festival.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, BJP Rengali MLA Nauri Nayak stated that it would be impossible for MLAs from western Odisha to travel to Bhubaneswar for the poll because the celebrations would last until the next day. "We requested a change in the election date, but the government ignored us," he stated.

Nuakhai is an important agrarian festival celebrated with pomp and gaiety in numerous districts of western Odisha, including Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Boudh, and Sonepur.

"The state government is run by non-Odia bureaucrats who appear to know nothing about Nuakhai or western Odisha." "It is unfortunate that BJD leaders from western Odisha did not raise the issue with the government as well," he remarked.

The party's legislators would boycott the election as directed by Leader of the Opposition Jayanarayan Mishra and Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, he added.

On Thursday, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra told the media that the party's MLAs will not participate in the election process on September 21 because the holiday is celebrated for two days in the state's western region. "Despite protests, the government did not pay attention to our issue." "The Congress MLAs will be unable to attend the Speaker election on that date," he explained.

Narasingha also accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of treating the people of the region in a "step-motherly" manner.

While declining to comment on the topic because it falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parliamentary Affairs, Planning and Convergence Minister Rajendra Dholakia, who is from western Odisha, dismissed the accusation. 

"The Chief Minister has always prioritized Western Odisha." "There are several examples to show that the allegation is false, including medical colleges in Kalahandi and Balangir," he told media.

Ganeswar Behera, chairman of the state Congress media cell, announced on Wednesday that 'Nuakhai' will be celebrated on September 20 and 'Nuakhai Bhetghat' will be conducted on September 21. "People in western Odisha celebrate the festival with zeal and fervor, partaking in the offering after 'Nabanna' is offered to Maa Samaleswari." Because of the significance of this famous celebration, the state government usually declares a two-day holiday every year. "This year, however, only one holiday has been declared," he stated in a statement.

Notably, the Speaker post has remained vacant since the resignation of Bikram Keshari Arukha on May 12. Deputy Speaker Rajanikant Singh is in charge now.