Naveen Patnaik to join Bhubaneswar demonstration as party expands campaign over mineral rights, state revenue and electoral-roll revision
GLOBAL TIMES NEWS | September 27, 2026 , BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s political contest is set for another major confrontation on Monday, September 28, with the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) preparing for a large demonstration at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar. Party president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to participate in the programme.
The protest has been announced as part of the BJD’s wider campaign against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026. The party has demanded withdrawal of the amendments and has said the issue will be taken beyond the Assembly and into a statewide political campaign.
Why MMDR has become a major Odisha issue
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The central point of the BJD’s campaign is its contention that the amended mining framework affects the powers and financial interests of states in relation to mines and mineral-bearing land.
Senior BJD leaders including Debi Prasad Mishra, Pratap Jena, Arun Kumar Sahu, Sudam Marandi and Priti Ranjan Ghadai have publicly outlined the party’s objections and announced the September 28 mobilisation.
The party has argued that Odisha, because of its mineral resources, has a particularly significant financial stake in the issue. These are BJD’s political claims, while the actual implications of the amended legislation depend on the statutory provisions and their implementation.
Supreme Court verdict becomes part of BJD’s argument
The opposition party has also linked the MMDR debate with the July 25, 2024 Supreme Court judgment delivered by a nine-judge Constitution Bench concerning the power of states to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land.
BJD leaders have argued that the judgment created a significant revenue opportunity for Odisha. Pratap Jena has claimed that the state could have received substantial arrears and additional annual mining-related revenue, and has alleged that the amended MMDR framework affects that opportunity.
The figures being cited by BJD are therefore part of the party’s argument over the financial consequences of the amendment and should be distinguished from independently established government revenue projections.
Assembly proceedings already disrupted
The MMDR controversy has already spilled into the Odisha Assembly. BJD and Congress legislators have repeatedly protested over the legislation during the ongoing session.
On September 24, opposition members entered the Well of the House and raised slogans demanding withdrawal of the amendments. The disruption eventually led to the adjournment of the Assembly for the day.
Patnaik subsequently questioned the role of BJP MPs from Odisha in Parliament over the passage of the legislation and called on the state government to pause implementation and examine the issue.
Election Commission issue adds another dimension
The BJD’s current political campaign also includes the Election Commission of India and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On September 25, Patnaik demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for a fresh review of the SIR process. His remarks followed reports concerning differences within the Election Commission relating to electoral-roll revision, voter forms, deletions and access to data.
The BJD has opposed the SIR exercise and has sought a reassessment of the process. The party’s position forms part of a broader opposition campaign concerning electoral-roll procedures and the functioning of the election machinery.
BJD takes the battle beyond the Assembly
The September 28 mobilisation is significant because the BJD is bringing together two politically sensitive themes: Odisha’s mineral and revenue interests and questions surrounding electoral-roll revision and the Election Commission.
The party has accused the BJP governments of failing to adequately protect Odisha’s interests. The BJP and government side, however, have rejected the opposition’s criticism and defended the policy framework, making the MMDR issue a clear point of political disagreement.
Naveen Patnaik to lead the mobilisation
With Naveen Patnaik scheduled to attend the Lower PMG programme, the September 28 protest is expected to serve as a major public demonstration of the BJD’s opposition strategy.
The party has appealed to its organisational network and supporters to participate. Its immediate demands centre on the MMDR amendments, while Patnaik’s recent statements on the Election Commission and SIR add another layer to the political campaign.
The Bhubaneswar demonstration will therefore put the BJD’s principal objections to the mining legislation, its concerns over Odisha’s financial interests and its position on electoral-roll revision before the public in a single political programme.