BJD Boycotts Assembly Orientation Over Protocol Violation

The opposition BJD announced that its MLAs will not attend the two-day orientation at the assembly, citing protocol violations. BJD's chief whip argued that inviting central ministers to inaugurate the event undermines the state’s dignity and relegates the Chief Minister to a secondary role.

The opposition BJD has declared that its MLAs will boycott the upcoming two-day orientation programme at the assembly, citing protocol violations as the reason for their absence.

In a letter addressed to Speaker Surama Padhy, BJD’s chief whip Pramila Mallik criticized the decision to invite central ministers to inaugurate and address the event, stating that it goes against the dignity of the assembly. Mallik emphasized that it undermines the status of the state’s Chief Minister when he is relegated to a secondary role within the assembly premises.

Mallik further noted that the CM is typically accorded precedence over central ministers in state-held functions. The orientation, scheduled for August 17 and 18, will feature Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Health Minister JP Nadda. The BJD holds 51 seats in the 147-member assembly.