Opposition walks out as leaders trade barbs over governance and women’s dignity
April 30, 2026: A shocking incident from Keonjhar—where a man carried his sister’s skeleton to a bank—sparked a major political storm in the Odisha Legislative Assembly during a special session on women’s participation in democracy. Congress MLAs protested inside the House, holding placards and raising slogans against the BJP-led state government, before staging a brief walkout as proceedings continued.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, while initiating the debate, criticised the previous BJD government for not extending adequate reservation for women beyond local bodies. He said limiting 33% reservation to the panchayat level was insufficient and called for broader representation in the Assembly and Lok Sabha. Despite the disruption, the Speaker allowed the session to proceed.
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik hit back, calling the Keonjhar incident “painful” and accusing the government of failing citizens. He said the episode reflected “inhumane governance” and questioned the state’s commitment to women’s dignity. The ruling side responded by recalling past incidents under BJD rule, intensifying the political clash during the session.