Political row erupts over BJD MLAs' exclusion from Odisha CM's flood tour

A political row over denial of permission to BJD MLAs to accompany Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during his visit to flood-hit areas of Jajpur district on Monday escalated, with local MLA Sujata Sahu lodging a police complaint against BJP workers.

Sahu, a BJD MLA from Jajpur, was among the party's three legislators who alleged they were sidelined during the chief minister's visit despite being invited by the district administration.

Sahu and Binjharpur MLA Pramila Mallik, who is also the Opposition chief whip in the Assembly, staged a dharna near Pitiri Chhak in Dasarathpur along with their supporters.

During the protest, a section of BJP workers allegedly raised slogans against the two MLAs and objected to their presence during the chief minister's visit.

"Jajpur collector had personally invited me to come to a Kalyan Mandap at Pitiri Chhak of Dasarathpur, where the CM would arrive to visit the flood-affected areas. He told me to accompany Majhi," Sahu said.

"I reached the spot before time and waited for his arrival. After the CM arrived, he was joined by two ministers who embarked on a boat journey. Along with Binjharpur MLA Pramila Mallik, I wanted to accompany him, but we were sidelined and ignored by the district administration," she alleged.

"The CM, along with the revenue minister, higher education minister, some ruling party MLAs and district administration officials, went to the flood-affected areas by boat, leaving us in the lurch," Sahu said.

Feeling humiliated, the Jajpur MLA lodged an FIR at Dasarathpur police station against BJP workers for their "misbehaviour" toward elected people's representatives.

Out of the seven Assembly seats in Jajpur district, the BJD holds three, while the BJP has four.

The BJD MLAs are Sujata Sahu from Jajpur, Pramila Mallik from Binjharpur and Biswa Mohan Mallik from Bari.

Large parts of Jajpur and Binjharpur constituencies have been affected by the floods, with Dasarathpur block among the worst-hit areas due to the swelling Baitarani and its tributary Kani.

Mallik also condemned the incident.

"It is quite undemocratic, and we condemn it. Being people's representatives, we have the right to accompany the CM when he is visiting our areas 15 days after the severe flood," she said.

Jajpur Collector Ambar Kumar Kar, however, rejected the allegations.

"There is no evil intention behind it. They could not be accommodated along with the CM's party due to purely security reasons," Kar said.

After visiting Jajpur, Majhi left for Bhadrak to inspect other flood-affected areas.

Meanwhile, the Baitarani was flowing at 19.50 metres at Akhuapada, against its danger level of 18.33 metres, officials said.

Several low-lying areas of Dasarathpur, Korei and Jajpur blocks have remained inundated for nearly four weeks, raising concerns over further flooding.

This is the fourth spell of flooding in the Baitarani and Kani rivers, officials said.