Odisha jobs row: BJD says only 6,000 of 45,000 BJP appointments were fresh
Synopsis
The BJD has punctured the BJP's headline jobs figure in Odisha with the government's own assembly data: of the 45,000 appointments cited by CM Majhi, 39,000 were advertised by the previous BJD regime. That leaves just 6,000 fresh BJP hires against a two-year target of 65,000 — and 94,485 posts still vacant.
Key Takeaways
BJD challenged the BJP government's claim of filling 45,000 government posts in Odisha over two years, citing Odisha Legislative Assembly data.
Recruitment advertisements for 39,000 of those posts were issued by the previous Naveen Patnaik -led BJD government between 2020 and 2023 .
The BJP's own manifesto promised 1.5 lakh government jobs in five years — requiring roughly 65,000 hires every two years; the party reportedly made only 6,000 fresh appointments.
24 recruitment examinations were cancelled in the past 24 months , according to BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty .
As of January 2026 , 94,485 government posts remained vacant in Odisha, per government data cited by the BJD.
The BJD alleged Odisha's unemployment rate rose from 0.9% under its tenure to 3.5% under the BJP government.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday, 10 August challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Odisha government's claim of filling 45,000 government posts over the past two years, asserting that recruitment advertisements for nearly 39,000 of those positions had been issued under the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD administration — leaving the BJP's own fresh appointments at just 6,000.
What the BJD Alleged
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said in a press statement that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's claim, made earlier the same day, was misleading. Citing a reply tabled in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Mohanty said the government's own data showed that advertisements for 39,000 of the 45,000 posts had been issued by the Naveen government between 2020 and 2023.
'This means that the BJP government has made only 6,000 fresh appointments to government posts. This clearly shows that the BJP has failed to fulfil the promises it made in the field of employment during the last two years,' Mohanty said.
The Manifesto Benchmark
The BJD's attack draws its sharpest edge from the BJP's own election commitments. The party had promised 1.5 lakh government jobs over five years in its manifesto — a pace that would require roughly 65,000 appointments every two years. Against that benchmark, the 6,000 fresh hires represent less than 10% of the expected two-year target, according to Mohanty's calculation.
Cancelled Exams and Vacant Posts
Mohanty further alleged that 24 recruitment examinations had been cancelled in the past 24 months, which he described as evidence of the government's inability to manage the hiring process. He also cited government data showing that as of January 2026, 94,485 government posts remained vacant across the state.
On the private sector front, the BJD alleged that the BJP's promise to create jobs for 3.5 lakh youth in industry had yielded nothing concrete, calling it 'a hollow assurance.'
Unemployment Rate in Dispute
The BJD claimed Odisha's unemployment rate had climbed from 0.9% under its own tenure to 3.5% under the current BJP government — a near four-fold rise, according to the party. These figures were not independently verified at the time of publication.
The BJP government had not issued a formal response to the BJD's allegations by the time of this report. With Odisha's next electoral cycle on the horizon, the employment debate is expected to intensify as opposition parties seek to hold the ruling party to its manifesto commitments.
Point of View
000 posts advertised under BJD rule were not filled under BJD rule either, which is precisely why they were still vacant for the BJP to inherit. The real accountability gap lies elsewhere — in the 24 cancelled exams and 94,485 posts still sitting empty. If those numbers hold up under scrutiny, they are a more damaging indictment of governance than the headline dispute over who deserves credit for which batch of appointments.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP-BJD dispute over Odisha government jobs?
The BJD has alleged that the BJP government's claim of filling 45,000 government posts in two years is misleading, since 39,000 of those posts were advertised by the previous BJD government between 2020 and 2023. The BJD contends the BJP made only 6,000 fresh appointments of its own.
What did CM Mohan Charan Majhi claim about Odisha employment?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated on 10 August that his government had made appointments to 45,000 vacant government posts during the past two years. The BJD disputed this, saying most of those appointments were based on advertisements issued under the Naveen Patnaik administration.
How many government posts are vacant in Odisha as of 2026?
According to government data cited by the BJD, 94,485 government posts were lying vacant in Odisha as of January 2026. The party used this figure to argue that the employment crisis in the state remains unaddressed.
How many recruitment exams were cancelled in Odisha in the past two years?
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged that 24 recruitment examinations were cancelled over the past 24 months, which he described as a sign of the government's failure to manage the hiring process effectively.
What was the BJP's election promise on jobs in Odisha?
The BJP's election manifesto had promised 1.5 lakh government jobs over five years in Odisha, which translates to approximately 65,000 appointments every two years. The BJD argues that with only 6,000 fresh hires, the BJP has fulfilled less than 10% of its two-year target.
