December 17th 2025.
Bhubaneswar: The allotment of a bungalow in New Delhi to Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has sparked a war of words between the ruling BJP and the Opposition BJD. Both parties held separate press conferences to address the issue, with the BJD accusing the BJP of controlling the state's administration and the BJP dismissing it as "electoral frustration".
The BJD's spokesperson, Lenin Mohanty, raised concerns about the additional expenses that will be incurred for the maintenance and security of the bungalow, claiming that the state already has sufficient facilities in the national capital. He also pointed out that this is the first time in the state's history that a chief minister has been allotted a house in Delhi, and that former CM Naveen Patnaik had never made such an arrangement during his 24-year tenure.
Mohanty further alleged that the decision was made by "leaders sitting in Delhi" in an attempt to control Odisha's administration. He criticized the state police for seeking approval to deploy armed personnel from Odisha to provide security at the bungalow, questioning the CM's confidence in the Delhi Police. He also accused the state government of not showing any development in the past 18 months.
In response, BJP general secretary Biranchi Narayan Tripathy clarified that the bungalow was allotted solely for the purpose of facilitating the CM's official work and ensuring better coordination with the Centre. He pointed out that many other chief ministers, including those from Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan, have official residences in Delhi.
Tripathy also mentioned that Naveen Patnaik used to stay at his ancestral house in Delhi and did not require a separate official residence, unlike the current CM. He dismissed the BJD's allegations as "electoral frustration" and claimed that many leaders from panchayat to Parliament level are leaving the party to join the BJP.
Sources revealed that the bungalow was allotted due to the demolition of the old Odisha Bhavan and the construction of a new one in Chanakyapuri. The state government will pay the prescribed license fee to the Directorate of Estates for the accommodation. It is also mentioned that the CM had been staying at a hotel during his visits to Delhi since the demolition of Odisha Bhavan.
This issue has become a topic of debate between the two parties, with the BJD questioning the BJP's motives and the BJP justifying their actions as necessary for the state's development. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the future.
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