Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday accused the BJP government of compromising Odisha’s mineral revenue and failing to safeguard the state’s interests in the long-standing Mahanadi and Kotia disputes, alleging that political considerations had weakened its stand on critical state issues.
In a post on X, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty alleged that the BJP’s backing of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, had undermined Odisha’s rights over mineral-bearing land, potentially costing the state Rs 1 lakh crore in pending dues and Rs 12,000 crore in annual revenue.
Accusing the BJP of prioritising the interests of a handful of industrialists over those of Odisha’s 4.5 crore people, including the younger generation, Mohanty questioned the government’s commitment to protecting the state’s economic interests.
The BJD leader also criticised the BJP government over the Mahanadi water dispute, alleging that it had failed to fulfil its promise of resolving the issue despite being in power for more than two and a half years.
On the Kotia dispute, Mohanty recalled that BJP leaders had raised the slogan “Go back, Andhra!” during the BJD regime and that a 16-member Kotia Committee had subsequently been constituted. However, he alleged that the initiative had failed to produce any tangible outcome.
The BJD further accused the state government of inaction even as Andhra Pradesh had announced elections in Kotia, a disputed border area. Mohanty attributed the alleged reluctance to confront Andhra Pradesh to the BJP’s dependence on its ally, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), at the Centre.
He claimed that taking a firm stand on the Kotia issue could jeopardise the TDP’s support for the BJP-led government at the Centre, alleging that political compulsions were being placed above Odisha’s territorial interests.
The allegations add to the Opposition’s criticism of the BJP government over mineral revenue, inter-state water-sharing and the protection of Odisha’s territorial claims.
