Bhubaneswar: Leaders of all major political parties in Odisha gathered on Monday for an all-party meeting chaired by Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, ahead of the upcoming winter session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The meeting, held in Bhubaneswar, aimed to ensure a smooth and productive session as the House prepares to convene from November 26 to December 31.
Speaking to the media, Speaker Padhy emphasized the importance of cooperation among parties to maintain decorum and efficiency during the session. “We have deliberated extensively to ensure a smooth and productive session of the Assembly. The meeting was successful,” she said. Key attendees included Chief Minister and Leader of the House Mohan Charan Majhi, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Chief Whip Pramila Mallik, and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Leader Ramchandra Kadam.
While the meeting sought consensus, the opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress, signaled their intent to hold the state government accountable on pressing issues. Senior BJD leader Pratap Keshari Deb announced his party’s focus on raising several critical matters during the session. “As a responsible opposition, we will take up these issues and put the government in the dock,” he said, highlighting the party’s resolve to address burning concerns such as the law-and-order situation and the recent mango kernel death controversy.
Meanwhile, the Congress Legislative Party is set to finalize its strategy at a meeting scheduled for Monday evening. Party leaders are expected to discuss key issues they plan to raise during the session to corner the ruling government.
The second session of the 17th Odisha Assembly is anticipated to be a heated one, with debates and discussions likely to center on governance, public safety, and social issues affecting the state.