Odisha Assembly Session Begins Amid Opposition Protests

The first day of the Odisha Assembly’s monsoon session witnessed repeated disruptions as BJD and Congress MLAs protested over school textbook errors and the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026.
The session opened with obituary references for six former legislators and victims of the recent flash floods in Nepal. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi moved the motion, recalling former ministers Dambarudhar Majhi and Sushant Singh, former chief whip Satya Bhusan Sahu and others.

Trouble began during Question Hour when Opposition members entered the well and raised slogans. BJD legislators protested over alleged errors in textbooks for Classes I to VIII, while Congress MLAs demanded withdrawal of the MMDR Amendment Act.
Despite repeated appeals from Speaker Surama Padhy, the protests continued, prompting her to adjourn the House until 1.10 pm. BJD members later joined a protest at Mahatma Gandhi Marg led by the party’s youth and student wings, which sought the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond.
After the House reconvened, the Opposition resumed its protest, forcing Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi to adjourn proceedings first until 4 pm and later until Wednesday.
BJP MLA Irasish Acharya criticised the Opposition for disrupting the session. He said the government had already taken corrective measures regarding the textbook errors and that revised books were being distributed.