BJD to target Odisha BJP govt on MMDR Act, textbook blunders and farmers in monsoon session
Synopsis
Naveen Patnaik's BJD heads into Odisha's monsoon session armed with three sharp attacks: the MMDR Amendment Act it says strips the state of resource rights, a textbook-printing scandal it wants a ministerial scalp for, and a farmers' crisis over fertilisers and paddy procurement — all aimed at framing the BJP's first full term in Odisha as a governance failure.
Key Takeaways
The BJD Legislative Party met in Bhubaneswar on 21 September 2026 to set its strategy for the monsoon session.
Naveen Patnaik will lead the opposition push on the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 , alleging it strips Odisha of rights over its land and resources.
BJD demands the resignation of the minister responsible for errors in school textbooks , calling it a 'colossal mistake'.
Farmers' concerns — including fertiliser shortages and paddy procurement irregularities — will be a major opposition focus.
The party also flagged UPI charges and alleged deletion of genuine voters during the state's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
The seventh session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly runs from 22 September to 3 October 2026 .
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday, 21 September 2026, announced it will aggressively confront the Odisha government during the upcoming monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, zeroing in on the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, errors in school textbooks, the plight of farmers, and a deteriorating law-and-order situation. The session is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, 22 September and run until 3 October.
BJD Legislative Party Sets the Agenda
The strategy was finalised at the BJD Legislative Party meeting held in Bhubaneswar on Monday, chaired by party president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik. Patnaik directed party MLAs to relentlessly expose what he called the failures of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, urging particular focus on three flashpoints: the MMDR Amendment Act, the textbook-printing controversy, and farmers' distress.
'There are many issues, starting from the deteriorating law-and-order situation, to failure in flood management, price rise, poor fiscal management and low budget expenditure. But our major focus will be the MMDR Amendment Act, the textbook printing blunder and the plight of farmers in the state,' Patnaik told legislators.
MMDR Amendment Act: A Fight Over State Rights
Patnaik characterised the recently passed MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 as an assault on Odisha's sovereign rights over its land and natural resources. He alleged the legislation had 'destroyed the dreams of youth' and vowed that the BJD would sustain its campaign until the state's rights were restored. 'BJD will fight till the state gets back its rights,' he asserted. The MMDR row taps into long-standing tensions between resource-rich states and the Centre over mining revenue-sharing and regulatory authority — a fault line that has repeatedly roiled Odisha politics.
Textbook Blunder and Ministerial Accountability
The opposition will also press the government over alleged printing errors discovered in school textbooks — a controversy that has drawn public embarrassment in recent weeks. Patnaik said the government 'must take responsibility for such a colossal mistake' and demanded that the minister in charge resign. The textbook issue is particularly sensitive in a state where government-issued learning materials reach millions of children across rural districts.
Farmers' Woes and Electoral Roll Deletions
The BJD plans to raise concerns over the non-availability of fertilisers and seeds, and alleged irregularities in paddy procurement — issues that cut across Odisha's large agrarian constituency. Patnaik additionally flagged the recently announced UPI charges and what the party describes as the deletion of genuine voters from the electoral list during the state's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, issues that could animate both rural and urban voters ahead of future elections.
What to Watch in the Session
The seventh session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly runs from 22 September to 3 October 2026. With the BJD entering as a resurgent opposition — having lost power to the BJP in 2024 after more than two decades — the session is expected to be combative. How the ruling BJP responds to the MMDR challenge and the textbook controversy will be closely watched as a test of the government's early political management.
Point of View
After two-plus decades of watching Naveen Patnaik govern, has no governing competence of its own. The MMDR Act is the shrewdest weapon — it lets Patnaik wear a state-rights, anti-Centre hat even as BJP is simultaneously his party's rival in Odisha and the ruling force in Delhi. The textbook and farmer angles add grassroots texture. What is missing from the opposition's toolkit, so far, is a counter-vision; attacking the MMDR Act without a clear alternative resource-rights framework risks looking reactive rather than statesmanlike.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, and why is the BJD opposing it?
The MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 is a central legislation amending India's Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. The BJD alleges it strips resource-rich states like Odisha of rights over their land and minerals, harming local youth and communities. Naveen Patnaik has vowed to fight until the state's rights are restored.
When does the Odisha Legislative Assembly monsoon session begin?
The seventh session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly begins on 22 September 2026 and is scheduled to continue until 3 October 2026.
What is the Odisha textbook controversy the BJD is raising?
Alleged printing errors were found in government-issued school textbooks, which the BJD has called a 'colossal mistake'. Naveen Patnaik has demanded that the minister in charge of textbook printing resign over the blunder.
What farmers' issues will the BJD raise in the session?
The BJD plans to highlight the non-availability of fertilisers and seeds, as well as irregularities in paddy procurement — problems that directly affect Odisha's large agrarian population.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy the BJD has flagged?
The BJD has alleged that genuine voters were deleted from the electoral list during Odisha's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, raising concerns about the integrity of voter rolls ahead of future elections.
