The monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly was disrupted for the third consecutive day on Thursday, 24 September 2026, as opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress legislators staged coordinated protests inside and outside the House, demanding repeal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act — commonly referred to as the MMDR Amendment Act.

How the Disruption Unfolded

As proceedings opened on the third day of the session, BJD and Congress MLAs gathered near the Speaker's podium carrying posters and banners, raising anti-government slogans against the MMDR Amendment Act. The Deputy Speaker, Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, attempted to steer Question Hour, with ministers Mukesh Mahaling and Suresh Pujari fielding queries amid the chaos. The disruptions, however, proved unrelenting, forcing the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the House until 4 pm.

Notably, the BJD had spent the previous two days demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over printing errors in state school textbooks — a separate grievance. Their pivot to the MMDR Act on day three signals a broadening of the opposition's assault on the ruling dispensation.

Protests Spill Outside the Assembly

Once outside, the two opposition parties pursued parallel tracks. Congress MLAs staged a demonstration beneath the Mahatma Gandhi statue within the Assembly complex. BJD legislators, meanwhile, marched to the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) office and staged a gherao, calling the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 'against the interests of the state.'

Senior BJD leader and party MLA Arun Sahu declared the OMC gherao the beginning of an 'economic blockade' against the legislation. He said the party had issued an ultimatum to both the state government and the Centre to withdraw the amendment, warning of a statewide economic blockade if the demand was not met. 'This is only the beginning. We will continue our protest and adopt a broader strategy if the government fails to act,' Sahu said.

Financial Stakes: Congress Puts a Number on the Loss

Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati alleged that the enactment of the MMDR Amendment Act had already cost Odisha ₹1.10 lakh crore, with an additional annual loss of ₹10,000 crore every year. He alleged that the BJP-led Union government had 'betrayed' the people of Odisha who had voted for it during the 2024 general elections. These figures were stated by the Congress leader and have not been independently verified.

What the MMDR Row Is About

The MMDR Amendment Act has been a flashpoint between mineral-rich states and the Centre over the distribution of royalties, levies, and administrative control over mining blocks. Odisha, one of India's most mineral-abundant states, has historically been sensitive to any federal legislation that could alter the terms of mineral revenue-sharing. Critics argue that the amendment dilutes state authority and reduces Odisha's share of proceeds from its own natural resources — a charge the Union government has contested.

This is the third session in recent memory in which Odisha's Assembly has seen sustained disruptions over Centre-state disputes on resource governance, underscoring a deepening friction between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi on the subject. The BJD has vowed to escalate its agitation and mobilise public support statewide in the days ahead.