Balangir: Senior BJD leader and Balangir MLA Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has come down heavily on the Odisha government for what he termed a “complete breakdown of protocol and deliberate sidelining of elected representatives” during Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s recent visit to Balangir district.
In a strongly-worded open letter to the Chief Minister, Kalikesh expressed deep disappointment at not being informed about the CM’s official visit to his own constituency. He described this as a “clear violation of institutional norms and disrespect towards democratic representation,” raising questions about the functioning of the district administration.
“As the elected representative of Balangir, I would have welcomed the Chief Minister and contributed to discussions on public welfare. This administrative lapse reflects not just protocol failure, but a dangerous trend of bypassing constitutional roles,” he wrote.
“Tokenism, Not Development”
Calling out the token farmer meetings held by the Agriculture Department during the CM’s tour, the MLA remarked that the entire programme appeared to be “a staged event designed to promote ruling party workers, rather than solve farmers’ problems.” He noted that such symbolic events fail to address the deep structural issues affecting agriculture in the region.
“This kind of political tokenism has become the hallmark of the Agriculture Department in Balangir. Selective invitations, last-minute communication, and exclusion of public representatives are being normalised,” he alleged.
He cautioned the Chief Minister that such actions may project political strength but ultimately come at the cost of real governance and development.
Seven Key Demands for Balangir’s Growth
In the letter, Shri Kalikesh listed seven critical demands that he said have been long overdue and are essential for Balangir’s growth:
1. Establishment of an Agriculture University in Balangir to serve western Odisha’s large agrarian population.
2. Revival of the Deogaon Sugar Mill to support sugarcane farmers and boost the rural economy.
3. Sanction of funds for urban drainage infrastructure, based on an existing master plan to prevent annual flooding in the town.
4. Restoration and development of 17 urban tanks, including the pending Maharani Sagar project, for better water conservation and urban ecology.
5. Fast-tracking the Tusra Airport project, for which ₹65 crore had already been sanctioned by the previous government.
6. Accelerated implementation of ISS and irrigation projects, which remain stalled across the district.
7. Immediate commencement of PWD construction work at Samleshwari Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, and Gopalji Temple following eviction of encroachments.
“Don’t Let Balangir Be Sidelined”
Concluding his letter, the MLA warned that Balangir — a district with historic contributions to Odisha’s political and economic life — must not be marginalised in the current government’s development narrative.
“These are not new demands. They reflect the genuine aspirations of our people. I urge the Chief Minister to rise above political partisanship and ensure that Balangir gets the attention it rightfully deserves,” Kalikesh stated.
The letter has sparked political ripples in Balangir, with many questioning the CM’s approach to regional representation and the true intent of his visit. Whether the government will respond to these demands remains to be seen.