A political controversy has emerged in Odisha following allegations by Biju Janata Dal MLAs that they were excluded from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's visit to flood affected areas of Jajpur district. The dispute developed during the Chief Minister's inspection of areas affected by flooding and has led to allegations from the opposition BJD and a response from the district administration.
Jajpur MLA Sujata Sahu alleged that she and another BJD legislator were sidelined during the Chief Minister's visit despite having been invited by the district administration. According to Sahu, the Jajpur Collector had personally invited her to reach a designated location at Pitiri Chhak in Dasarathpur and had told her that she would accompany the Chief Minister during his visit to the flood affected areas.
Sahu said she reached the location before the Chief Minister's arrival and waited for the inspection team. When Majhi arrived, he was accompanied by ministers and officials. The Chief Minister subsequently travelled by boat to inspect flood affected areas. Sahu and Binjharpur MLA Pramila Mallik wanted to accompany the Chief Minister but alleged that they were prevented from doing so.
The BJD legislators described the incident as an attempt to sideline elected representatives from the affected constituencies. They argued that local MLAs should have been included in the Chief Minister's flood assessment because they represent areas where residents have been directly affected by the rising water levels.
Sahu and Mallik subsequently staged a protest near Pitiri Chhak in Dasarathpur along with their supporters. The protest focused on the alleged exclusion of the legislators and the treatment they received during the Chief Minister's visit.
During the protest, Sahu also lodged a police complaint against BJP workers, alleging that they misbehaved with the elected representatives. The complaint has added another dimension to the political dispute between the BJD and the ruling BJP in Odisha.
The allegations have been rejected by the Jajpur district administration. Collector Ambar Kumar Kar said there was no political intention behind the decision to exclude the two MLAs from the boat journey. According to the Collector, the legislators could not be accommodated in the Chief Minister's boat because of security considerations.
The administration's explanation has therefore become a key part of the dispute. While the BJD legislators have described the incident as deliberate sidelining, the district administration has maintained that the decision was based purely on security and logistical considerations.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's visit came as parts of Jajpur district continued to face flood conditions. The Chief Minister travelled by boat with ministers, ruling party legislators and district administration officials to assess the situation in affected areas.
According to reports, large parts of the Jajpur and Binjharpur constituencies have been affected by flooding. Dasarathpur block has been among the badly affected areas, with rising water levels in the Baitarani River and its tributary Kani causing inundation in several locations.
The flooding has also raised concerns because several low lying areas have remained inundated for an extended period. Officials said the Baitarani River was flowing above its danger level at Akhuapada, highlighting the continuing flood situation in the region.
The political dispute comes against the backdrop of the BJP and BJD being the two major political forces in Odisha. The BJP formed the government in the state after the 2024 Assembly elections, while the BJD became the principal opposition party.
The composition of the Jajpur district Assembly seats also reflects the political competition between the two parties. According to reports, the BJD holds three of the seven Assembly seats in the district, while the BJP holds four. The involvement of legislators from both parties in the flood response has therefore acquired political significance.
BJD leaders have argued that flood relief and assessment activities should remain above political differences. They have maintained that elected representatives from affected constituencies should be involved in discussions and field inspections because they are directly connected with local residents and their concerns.
The ruling side and district administration, meanwhile, have emphasised administrative and security requirements surrounding the Chief Minister's movement. The Collector's statement indicates that the decision regarding the boat journey was not intended to exclude the opposition legislators for political reasons.
The incident has consequently turned a flood inspection into a political controversy. The immediate focus remains on flood relief, the condition of affected residents and the administration's response to rising water levels. At the same time, the allegations concerning the treatment of the BJD MLAs are likely to continue as the two parties exchange criticism.
After completing his visit to Jajpur, Chief Minister Majhi travelled to neighbouring Bhadrak district to inspect other flood affected areas. The government has been assessing the situation in multiple districts as rivers continue to carry elevated water levels.
The situation in Jajpur also underlines the challenges faced by district administrations during prolonged flooding. Officials must coordinate evacuation, relief distribution, infrastructure protection and public safety while monitoring river levels. Political representatives from affected areas are also seeking a greater role in communicating local concerns to the administration.
For now, the allegations made by the BJD MLAs and the explanation provided by the Jajpur Collector remain the two competing versions of the incident. The BJD has described the exclusion as deliberate political sidelining, while the administration has attributed it to security considerations.
The police complaint filed by Sujata Sahu against BJP workers is another development that could further intensify the political dispute. The allegations in the complaint will need to be examined through the appropriate legal process, and the claims should not be treated as established facts unless confirmed through investigation.
The episode highlights how disaster response can become politically sensitive when elected representatives from rival parties are involved. With flood affected communities requiring immediate assistance, attention is expected to remain focused on relief measures and restoring normal conditions in the affected areas.
Overall, the controversy began after BJD MLAs alleged that they were prevented from accompanying Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during his flood inspection in Jajpur. Sujata Sahu subsequently filed a police complaint against BJP workers over alleged misbehaviour, while the district administration maintained that the MLAs were not accommodated in the boat because of security reasons.