Biju Janata Dal Rejects Odisha Statewide Shutdown

The Biju Janata Dal announced on October 7 that it will not support a 12-hour statewide shutdown in Odisha scheduled for October 8. The decision followed a period of confusion after Chief Whip Pramila Mallik initially signaled the party's backing for the strike during a morning press conference before later retracting the statement.

Mallik stated that the party was not consulted by the organizers and emphasized that the BJD maintains a policy of equal distance from all political blocs. The shutdown was called on September 29 by the Congress-led INDIA Bloc to demand the repeal of the MMDR Amendment Act 2026, the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the resignation of School & Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, and relief for flood-affected families.

While the BJD has independently opposed the SIR controversy and the MMDR Amendment Act—which President Naveen Patnaik described as harmful to regional interests—the party refuses to formally align with the INDIA Bloc coalition.