Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday sharpened its attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of failing to honour a decade-old commitment to secure Special Category Status (SCS) for Odisha.
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra questioned the BJP’s seriousness in pursuing the demand, recalling that the party’s 2014 manifesto had pledged to work towards granting the status to accelerate Odisha’s development.
Patra alleged that despite being in power in the state for nearly two years, the BJP has made no tangible progress on the issue. He cited recent statements in Parliament indicating that the Union government currently has no proposal under consideration regarding Special Category Status for Odisha. According to him, this disclosure casts doubt on the BJP’s “double-engine” governance narrative — a reference to the same party being in power at both the Centre and the state.
The BJD leader urged the state government, headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, to pass a formal Cabinet resolution pressing the Centre to grant Special Category Status to Odisha. He asserted that the demand goes beyond political rhetoric and is rooted in the state’s structural economic and developmental challenges.
Patra maintained that Odisha’s socio-economic indicators strengthen its case. Citing data from the state’s Economic Survey 2024–25 and the Multidimensional Poverty Index, he noted that while poverty levels have declined, key concerns persist, including malnutrition, limited access to clean cooking fuel, and gaps in sanitation infrastructure. The poverty rate currently stands at 15.68 per cent, reflecting progress but also highlighting continuing vulnerabilities.
He further pointed out that Scheduled Tribes constitute 22.8 per cent of Odisha’s population, while Scheduled Castes account for around 17 per cent — demographics that require sustained developmental support. Additionally, the state’s frequent exposure to cyclones and other natural disasters continues to strain public finances and infrastructure, reinforcing the argument for enhanced central assistance.
The BJP assumed office in Odisha on June 12, 2024, ending the 24-year tenure of the BJD under former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. In the Assembly elections held on June 4, the BJP secured 78 seats in the 147-member House and later consolidated its majority with the backing of two Independent legislators.
As political sparring intensifies, the debate over Special Category Status is likely to remain a key flashpoint between the ruling party and the Opposition, with both sides seeking to shape the narrative around Odisha’s developmental priorities.
