Bhubaneswar, Feb 16 (NationPress) The Congress party is gearing up to confront the state government by highlighting several critical issues affecting diverse segments of society in the Odisha Assembly during the anticipated budget session commencing on February 17.

Prior to the session, a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party took place on the Assembly grounds to strategize for this vital session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

The president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), Bhakta Charan Das, was present at the legislative party meeting.

In statements to reporters, Das emphasized that, as a responsible opposition force, they are dedicated to addressing public concerns within the Assembly and demanding accountability from the state government regarding its shortcomings.

He elaborated that the Congress party intends to press the government on multiple failures, including the alleged mistreatment of farmers, environmental pollution from industrial activities, the lingering Mahanadi water conflict, the provision of complimentary electricity to farmers and tax breaks for consumers, as well as issues related to women's safety, dignity, and justice, youth employment, land allocation for Dalits and tribals, and job frauds.

Moreover, the OPCC president noted that Congress MLAs will also bring up the government’s inability to honor its pre-election commitments to the people.

The meeting also saw the participation of Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, Odisha Congress co-incharge Jetti Kusum Kumar, along with all party MLAs.

The budget session is expected to be contentious, with both the opposition Biju Janata Dal and Congress planning to challenge the state government on various matters, particularly the chaos surrounding paddy procurement.

Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has urged party MLAs to spotlight issues concerning farmers and the deteriorating law-and-order situation.

Importantly, an all-party meeting was convened on Monday under the chairmanship of Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy to ensure the budget session proceeds smoothly. The session will open with the Governor’s address, followed by a two-day discussion.

On February 20, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also handles the finance portfolio, will present the State Budget. Official sources indicate the sixth session of the 17th Odisha Assembly will conclude on April 8, with the session divided into two phases and comprising 28 working days.