Shillong: The INDIA bloc has scheduled a statewide strike across Odisha for October 8. Opposing parties plan to shut down the region from Bhubaneswar to every village. Thousands of workers intend to court arrest during the protest. The move follows a massive Parivartan Rally held Tuesday in the state capital.
Protesters have three specific demands. They want the repeal of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Amendment Act of 2026. They also demand the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Finally, the group wants School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond to quit following errors found in school textbooks. OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das laid out the stakes: "The political parties of the INDIA bloc are protesting over three demands, including the repeal of the MMDR Amendment Act, the resignation and arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and Odisha’s education minister Nityananda Gond’s resignation."
Tensions hit a breaking point Tuesday near Lower PMG. Members of Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP-Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party, and RJD marched toward the Chief Minister’s residence. Police blocked the path. Scuffles broke out between security personnel and the crowd. Officers eventually detained several senior leaders and workers to clear the site.
The opposition previously planned to gherao the Odisha Assembly. The state government adjourned the session sine die on Tuesday to avoid the heat, though proceedings were originally slated to run until October 3. This decision only fueled the opposition's resolve. The Biju Janata Dal also held a separate rally Monday to demand the same repeal of the mining act.
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