Bhubaneswar: Opposition MLAs from the BJD and Congress staged a walkout from the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday, accusing the ruling BJP of failing to control the rising prices of essential commodities and effectively addressing the potato crisis in the state.
The issue was debated during an adjournment motion raised by the Opposition, highlighting soaring prices of vegetables, pulses, edible oils, and fuel. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra attributed the price hikes to adverse climatic conditions, fluctuations in domestic and international markets, and reduced production in key supplying states.
Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallick criticized the government’s response, stating, “The BJP government has failed to control commodity prices and meet basic needs. The minister’s remarks on the potato crisis mislead the people.”
Congress MLAs Taraprasad Bahinipati and Ashok Das, along with BJD’s Byomkesha Roy, Dhruba Charan Sahu, and Goutam Buddha Das, accused the government of mismanagement and held Minister Patra responsible for the “suffering of people.” They pointed out that potatoes were selling at ₹50 per kg in retail markets, while pulses and edible oils were priced at ₹180 per kg and ₹190 per litre, respectively.
Bahinipati demanded government intervention, including subsidies for essential food items, emphasizing the state’s revenue sources like mining and GST.
In defense, treasury bench members, including Saroj Padhi and Babu Singh, argued that the state government was taking steps to stabilize prices. Minister Patra accused the previous BJD government of failing to improve irrigation infrastructure and build adequate cold storage facilities.
Patra assured the House of sufficient potato stocks in the state and urged people not to panic. He also informed that district collectors had been directed to engage with traders to address the issue.
