Bhubaneswar, July 26: The political atmosphere in Odisha has heated up as the debate over a possible no-confidence motion against the BJP-led state government intensifies. Following the Congress party’s call for action, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has signaled its readiness to support or initiate the motion, while the BJP has declared it is fully prepared to face the challenge.

Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati stirred the pot by asserting that if BJD fails to support the motion, it will be seen as siding with the BJP. His remarks came after Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das initially proposed the motion, citing rising crimes against women and governance failures.

In response, BJD MLA Arun Sahoo hinted at the party’s willingness to back the no-confidence move. A closed-door meeting was held at Shankha Bhavan, attended by senior BJD leaders including Debi Prasad Mishra, Pranab Prakash Das, Pratap Deb, Pratap Jena, and Arun Sahoo, to deliberate on the party’s strategy.

Meanwhile, BJP State President Manmohan Samal responded firmly, stating, “We are fully prepared to face any no-confidence motion in the Assembly.” He dismissed the opposition’s efforts as political theatrics and reaffirmed the BJP’s numerical strength.

In the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly, the BJP holds 78 seats, supported by 3 Independent MLAs, giving it a total of 81. The opposition comprises 51 BJD MLAs, 14 Congress MLAs, and 1 CPI(M) MLA, totaling 66 — well short of the 74-seat majority required to unseat the government.

Despite the arithmetic, the symbolic weight of the motion could influence public perception and future political alignments. As the Monsoon Session approaches, all eyes are on whether the BJD will formally back the Congress-led initiative or maintain its strategic distance.

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