Bhubaneswar, Sep 15: After Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday announced to boycott the scheduled election for the Odisha Assembly Speaker post on September 21.
“The state government is playing with the emotions of the people of Western Odisha. The assembly speaker election is scheduled to be held on Nuakhai festival. Even the decision of the state government was protested, the election is not postponed,” said BJP MLA Nauri Nayak.
He accused the BJD government in the state of maintaining a "step-motherly" attitude towards the people of the western region of the state.
While Nuakhai is observed on September 20, the next day is celebrated as 'Bhet-ghat' (get-together) where the younger members of the families seek blessings of elders. Many people staying in other states come to their villages to attend 'Bhet-ghat', Nayak said.
The election for the post of Odisha Assembly Speaker is scheduled to be held on September 21. The post has been lying vacant since the resignation of Bikram Keshari Arukha on May 12.
