Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday announced a statewide Nari Adhikar Abhiyan (Women’s Rights Campaign), to be carried out across all Assembly constituencies in Odisha from May 10 to 25.

The announcement comes amid a heated political exchange in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, where opposition parties accused the government of misleading the public on issues related to women’s rights and safety.

BJD targets BJP over Women’s Reservation Bill delay

The BJD alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has created confusion over the Women’s Reservation Bill and failed to deliver on its promises regarding women’s empowerment.

“The state government is spreading misinformation about the Women’s Reservation Bill, which was passed unanimously in Parliament in 2023. However, it has not been implemented even nearly three years after receiving the President’s assent. The BJP is using women as a political tool. Odisha now ranks among the top states in crimes against women,” said Pramila Mallik, BJD Chief Whip.

She said the party will launch the campaign to reach out to people across the state and counter what it described as “false propaganda” surrounding the Bill.

BJD to submit memorandums to President via district officials

As part of the initiative, BJD leaders and workers will visit every constituency to raise awareness among women. The party also plans to submit memorandums addressed to the President through Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Tehsildars, outlining its demands.

On Thursday, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik reiterated support for the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Parliament in 2023, but questioned the delay in its implementation even after presidential assent. He alleged that linking the legislation to the proposed delimitation exercise could undermine Odisha’s political representation.

Patnaik also highlighted the BJD’s track record in promoting women’s participation in politics, noting that Odisha was among the first states to introduce 33% reservation for women in local bodies under former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, which was later increased to 50% during his tenure.

Meanwhile, Congress also joined the attack on the government. Congress Legislature Party leader Ramachandra Kadam questioned the delay in implementing the Bill and alleged that linking it with delimitation was merely an excuse to stall its rollout.

The issue triggered a three-way confrontation in the Assembly, with the ruling BJP, BJD, and Congress trading allegations over women’s safety, governance, and legislative priorities.