If 2025 had a soundtrack inside the Odisha Legislative Assembly, it would begin with thunder and end in near silence.
The year unfolded like a political drama—packed with confrontations, symbolism, walkouts, and overnight debates—before closing with an unexpected unity. From fiery budget-session battles to a winter session marked by calm cooperation, Odisha’s seventeenth Assembly offered a telling reflection of power, protest, and priorities.
What played out inside the House was more than routine lawmaking. It was a reflection of shifting priorities, power equations, and political comfort zones. The year tested the strength of the Opposition, the confidence of a new government, and the patience of the public.
A year that began on a boil
The budget session set the tone—heated, hostile, and relentless. The Opposition launched all-out attacks, gripping every contentious issue and shaking the House to its core. Repeated adjournments, slogan-shouting, and noisy protests became routine. The Assembly echoed with anger, while the Opposition’s roar spilled onto the streets outside, turning the Secretariat area into an extension of legislative unrest.
It seemed the Opposition was in no mood to spare the government on any front—be it women’s safety, reservation, farmers’ distress, recruitment irregularities, or regional neglect.
Seasonal cooling of politics
But as the year progressed, so did a visible change in tone. The monsoon session witnessed a dip in intensity. By the time the winter session arrived, the once-combative Opposition appeared noticeably restrained. Issues that once shook the House barely registered. Voices that had thundered earlier were reduced to murmurs.
In the winter session, the Opposition raised a few select issues—more symbolic than confrontational—just enough to signal presence. The real convergence soon became clear.
When salary became the common cause
The defining moment of consensus came with the bill to increase MLAs’ salaries and allowances. In a rare display of unity, the ruling party and the Opposition spoke in one voice. The bill was passed unanimously, sealing an “all-party agreement” that contrasted sharply with the chaos of earlier sessions.
Even the early conclusion of the winter session—ending 18 days ahead of schedule—passed without protest.
A Presidential chapter in history
Amid the political highs and lows, one moment stood apart. November 27, 2025, became a historic day as President Droupadi Murmu, Odisha’s own daughter, addressed the Assembly.
Her message was firm yet graceful—calling for discipline, restraint, responsibility, and unity. She urged legislators to rise above partisanship, work with a nation-first approach, and become role models for citizens. Her emotional return to the corridors of the Assembly added warmth to a year otherwise dominated by confrontation.
Faces, voices, and power plays
Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik’s limited presence became a talking point, drawing sharp criticism from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who himself remained highly active—personally responding to Opposition questions and challenging them to explain why reforms weren’t implemented during their long years in power.
On the Opposition benches, veterans Ranendra Pratap Swain, Arun Sahoo, and Ganeswar Behera carried much of the debating load, while Congress voices like Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Sofia Firdous made strong impressions—though Tara’s absence in the winter session was keenly felt.
The ruling BJP relied on sharp new defenders such as Tankadhar Tripathy and Babu Singh, who repeatedly countered attacks by pointing to the Opposition’s past record.
Drama beyond debate
2025 was not short on spectacle—suspensions, scuffles, symbolic protests, and late-night removals of protesting MLAs added to the drama. Bells, trumpets, marches, and even sprinkling of Ganga water inside the Assembly reflected how protest often crossed into performance.
The suspension of all 14 Congress MLAs during the budget session marked one of the year’s most intense moments, pushing politics from rhetoric to raw confrontation.
Bills through the night
One unforgettable night saw debates stretch for over 14 hours, ending only at dawn. With tired eyes but relentless arguments, the House passed key legislation including the Odisha University (Amendment) Bill and the State Highway Authority Bill.
BJD MLA from Nuapada Rajendra Dholakia passed away in September. Following the by-election, his son Jaya Dholakia won the seat on a BJP ticket. The result reduced BJD’s strength in the Assembly and boosted BJP’s numbers.
Sessions that ended too soon
Ironically, despite the noise and drama, no session completed its full schedule. Every sitting—budget, monsoon, and winter—ended earlier than planned, leaving unanswered questions about productivity versus performance.
