BJD announces month-long padayatra against MMDR Act from October 2

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will launch a month-long public outreach padayatra across Odisha from 2 October, focusing on the state government's alleged failure to fulfil promises and opposition to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026. Party president Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the campaign in Bhubaneswar on Gandhi and Shastri Jayanti, according to an announcement at a press conference on Thursday, 1 October.

The announcement follows a demonstration led by Patnaik on Monday, 28 September, outside the Odisha Legislative Assembly, where he appealed to all political parties to oppose the Act, alleging it would cost Odisha thousands of crores of rupees in annual revenue. The Congress has scheduled its own protest in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, 29 September, with Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati saying the party was the first to raise the issue in the Assembly. BJP MLA Santosh Khatua dismissed the Congress protest, accusing the Opposition of trying to mislead people.

Update, 1 October 2026: OdishaTV reports that the BJD has announced a month-long padayatra starting 2 October, with Patnaik inaugurating it. OdishaTV also reports that the Congress has scheduled a protest on 29 September and that the BJP has criticised the BJD campaign. The Congress claims it raised the MMDR issue before the BJD.