By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Mohan Majhi-led BJP government in Odisha completed two years in office around June 2026 (having assumed power in June 2024 after defeating the BJD). While the government highlights several achievements—like launching the Subhadra Yojana for women, increasing paddy MSP with bonus, opening the four gates of Puri Jagannath Temple, filling some government jobs, and welfare schemes—opposition parties, analysts, and media reports point to several notable criticisms and perceived failures.
Here is a summary of the main areas of criticism based on reports up to mid-2026:
Deteriorating Law and Order Situation: This is one of the most prominent criticisms in the second year. Reports highlight a spate of murders, mob lynchings, gang crimes, and violent incidents across districts like Ganjam, Cuttack, Berhampur, and others.
CM Majhi reportedly held multiple review meetings and expressed concern over rising heinous crimes, questioning police laxity.
Incidents such as the mob lynching of a GRP constable and daylight crimes raised questions about policing effectiveness and administrative control.
Critics argue that despite reshuffles and directions to the DGP, visible improvement on the ground has been limited, damaging the government’s image of providing “strong governance.”
Slow or Inadequate Action Against Corruption and Mafias: The government promised zero tolerance for corruption and probes into major scams from the previous regime, but progress is seen as limited:
Mining scams, sand mafia, and illegal minor mineral operators: Perceived hesitation in taking decisive action. Local officials and politicians are often alleged to be involved.
Chit fund scams: Small depositors are still awaiting full compensation; high-profile prosecutions of scamsters and their patrons remain pending.
Other unresolved issues: MV Black Rose case, pre-2024 irregularities under previous initiatives (e.g., 5T), and misuse of DMF funds. While some officials were arrested on graft charges, critics say systemic action against big fish and mafias is lacking.
Communal Tensions and Crimes Against Women: Early incidents of communal flare-ups (e.g., in Balasore) and attacks on minorities/Christians raised concerns about rising tensions. Some cases saw lenient police responses, drawing criticism given Odisha’s history.
Reports of rising crimes against women, including serious incidents, with opposition parties alleging failures in ensuring safety.
Implementation and Delivery Gaps:
Employment generation: While some jobs (around 28,000+ in the first year) were filled, creating sufficient opportunities for educated youth remains a big challenge.
Welfare schemes: Issues like delays or difficulties in availing Ayushman Bharat benefits, partial implementation of pension increases, and complaints about old-age pensions in some periods.
Administrative and structural issues: Trust deficit with bureaucracy leading to slow decision-making, policy paralysis, and unfilled key positions (e.g., in commissions, PSUs). Critics mention over-reliance on populist measures without a clear long-term “big idea” or transformative vision.
Other Criticisms: Attempts to rename or sideline legacies of previous leaders (e.g., Biju Patnaik-related schemes or events), seen by opponents as politically motivated. Perceived focus on optics (photo-ops, announcements) over substantive ground-level change. Handling of contractual workers’ issues (e.g., retrenchment protests by RSS-affiliated groups).
Governance evaluations are inherently political. The government and its supporters counter these points by emphasizing fulfillment of key election promises, increased investments, welfare outreach, anti-corruption drives against officials, and comparisons showing improvement over the previous regime’s later years. Many issues (e.g., mafias, scams) are legacies of long-standing problems. As of mid-2026, the government was conducting a performance review of ministers ahead of the two-year mark.
