Odisha's Opposition Parties Boycott Assembly Prep Meeting

Opposition parties Congress and CPI(M) in Odisha skipped an all-party meeting convened by Speaker Surama Padhy ahead of the assembly session. BJD's Chief Whip Pramila Mallik attended, while Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik was absent. The Congress absence was due to indecision on their legislature party leader.

In a notable absence, Odisha's opposition parties Congress and CPI(M) did not attend the all-party meeting called by Speaker Surama Padhy on Sunday, ahead of the crucial assembly session.

Representing the BJD was its Chief Whip Pramila Mallik, while Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik stayed away from the gathering.

According to Senior Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, the party abstained from the meeting due to unresolved decisions regarding their legislature party leader.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling described the interaction with BJD's chief whip as friendly and assured that there would be cooperation for the session's orderly conduct. He conveyed that the Congress party had not yet appointed a leader in the assembly and mentioned a conversation with state Congress president Sarat Patnaik, urging him to delegate an MLA to participate in the meeting.

The meeting also saw the absence of the lone CPI(M) MLA.

Post-meeting, Speaker Surama Padhy noted that suggestions from all members were considered and emphasized that the assembly session, starting with the governor's address, would proceed with assured cooperation from those present.