Archive · 8 Oct 2026
BJD Stays Away From INDIA Bloc’s Odisha Bandh
Nine parties in the INDIA bloc called for a 12-hour shutdown in Odisha on October 8.
They said they were protesting a new mining law, alleged mistakes in school textbooks and the SIR voter-list exercise.
They also demanded the resignation of Odisha’s school education minister over the textbook issue.
The BJD said it would neither support nor oppose the shutdown.
One BJD leader briefly appeared to support it, but later clarified the party’s position.
BJD leaders had joined a separate protest in Delhi about alleged problems with the SIR process.
The bandh organisers said hospitals, ambulances, fire services, medicine shops and milk supply would be exempt.
The Odisha BJP president said the bandh would have no impact, and the state directed officials to prepare to maintain order.
The BJD said it would neither support nor oppose the 12-hour Odisha bandh scheduled for October 8.
Nine INDIA bloc parties called the bandh over a new mining law, alleged textbook errors and the SIR exercise.
The bandh organisers also demanded the resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over the alleged textbook errors.
The BJD said it remained equidistant from the BJP-led NDA and Congress-led opposition alliance, despite some leaders initially expressing support.
Organisers exempted essential services; the BJP’s Odisha president predicted no impact, while state officials were told to maintain law and order.
- Who
- Nine INDIA bloc parties called the bandh; the BJD said it would stay neutral. Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal commented on its expected impact.
- What
- A 12-hour Odisha bandh, with organisers also demanding the school education minister’s resignation.
- When
- Thursday, October 8; the BJD announced its position on Wednesday, October 7.
- Where
- Odisha, India; BJD leaders had also joined a separate opposition protest in Delhi.
- Why
- The INDIA bloc parties cited a new mining law, alleged school textbook errors and the SIR exercise.
Bandh supporters
Bandh critics and nonparticipants
Whether to hold the shutdown
Bandh supporters
Nine INDIA bloc parties called the bandh and appealed to people to participate, citing the mining law, alleged textbook errors and the SIR exercise.
Bandh critics and nonparticipants
The BJD said it would neither support nor oppose the bandh and maintained its equidistance from the BJP and Congress. Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said the bandh would have no impact on people.
- Bandh duration
- 12 hours
- Scheduled date
- Thursday, October 8
- Calling parties
- Nine INDIA bloc parties
- BJD position
- Neither supporting nor opposing the bandh
- Stated issues
- A new mining law, alleged textbook errors and the SIR exercise
- Additional demand
- Resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged textbook errors
- Services exempted
- Hospitals, ambulances, fire services, medicine shops and milk supply
- Officials directed
- District collectors and superintendents of police were directed to take measures to maintain law and order
