Archive · 11 Aug 2026
BJD questions Odisha government's claim of 45,000 jobs
A big political argument is happening in a state in India called Odisha.
Two political groups are fighting over how many government jobs were given.
Government jobs are jobs working for the state, like in offices and schools.
The leader of the state government, Mr. Mohan Charan Majhi, says his team gave jobs to 45,000 young people in two years.
Another political group called the BJD says that is not fair.
They say most of those jobs were already announced before the current leaders took over.
They think only about 6,000 new jobs were actually given.
The BJD says the leaders promised to give many more jobs and did not keep their promise.
They also say many government jobs are still empty and people cannot find work.
The two groups keep disagreeing about the numbers.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty questioned the BJP-led Odisha government's claim of appointing around 45,000 youths to government jobs in two years.
The BJD said advertisements for nearly 39,000 of these posts were issued by the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government between 2020 and 2023.
According to BJD calculations, the BJP government made only about 6,000 fresh appointments to government posts.
The BJD said 24 recruitment examinations were cancelled in the past 24 months and that 94,485 government posts were vacant as of January 2026.
The BJD claimed Odisha's unemployment rate rose from 0.9 per cent under its rule to 3.5 per cent under the BJP government.
- Who
- Biju Janata Dal (BJD) spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government.
- What
- BJD, citing a reply in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, disputed the state government's claim of 45,000 government appointments in two years, saying most of those posts were advertised under the previous government.
- When
- The dispute was raised on Monday; BJD referenced recruitment advertisements issued between 2020 and 2023 and vacancy data as of January 2026.
- Where
- Odisha, India (statements made in Bhubaneswar).
- Why
- BJD alleges the BJP-led government has failed to fulfil its election promises on employment, attributing only about 6,000 fresh appointments to it.
Biju Janata Dal (Opposition)
BJP-led State Government
Number of fresh jobs created
Biju Janata Dal (Opposition)
Only about 6,000 fresh appointments were made; the other 39,000 posts were advertised by the previous BJD government between 2020 and 2023.
BJP-led State Government
The government claims it appointed around 45,000 youths to government posts during the last two years.
Fulfilling election promise on jobs
Biju Janata Dal (Opposition)
The BJP promised 1.5 lakh jobs in five years and should have delivered 65,000 in two years, but failed; 24 recruitment exams were also cancelled.
BJP-led State Government
The government maintains it is making appointments to vacant posts and projects 45,000 appointments as delivery on its employment promise.
- State
- Odisha, India
- Chief Minister (BJP-led government)
- Mohan Charan Majhi
- Government's claimed appointments (2 years)
- Around 45,000
- Posts advertised under previous BJD government
- Around 39,000 (2020-2023)
- Fresh appointments per BJD
- About 6,000
- BJP manifesto promise
- 1.5 lakh government jobs in five years
- Cancelled recruitment examinations (24 months)
- 24
- Vacant government posts (January 2026)
- 94,485