Bhubaneswar, March 4: Controversy has erupted following the decision by the Mohan Majhi Government to change the date for celebrating Panchayati Raj Diwas from March 5 to April 24.
Addressing a press meet here today, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pratap Jena strongly condemned this move, accusing the Majhi Government of attempting to erase the legacy of the state's legendary leader, Biju Patnaik, who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Panchayati Raj system in India.
The decision has sparked significant backlash from the opposition party BJD, who view this as a deliberate effort to undermine the historical and cultural significance associated with the original date of celebration. The BJD's reaction came swiftly after Chief Minister Mohan Majhi approved the proposal to shift the date for the annual observance.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, “Every year, Odisha observes Panchayati Raj Diwas on March 5. However, the Government has now decided to move the celebration to April 24, aligning it with National Panchayati Raj Day, which is observed across India on that date. On this occasion, various prestigious awards, such as the Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Award and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Award, are conferred upon Panchayat representatives from different states.”
For years, Odisha had celebrated Panchayati Raj Diwas on March 5, a date that coincided with the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik, widely regarded as a trailblazer in the implementation of the Panchayati Raj system. Biju Patnaik’s contribution to the decentralization of power and the promotion of self-governance through Panchayati Raj is seen as a defining achievement of his leadership, as said in a press release by BJD.
The timing of this shift has drawn even more attention, as it comes after the political landscape of Odisha changed with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assuming control of the state under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Since the BJP took power last year, the Majhi Government has introduced several policies and decisions that differ from those of the previous BJD-led administration.
BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra argues that the change in the date is part of a broader pattern of efforts to rewrite Odisha’s political history and diminish the legacy of Biju Patnaik, whose influence continues to be felt across the state. The shift in the celebration date, they argue, is not just a minor administrative change but a calculated move to distance the state’s identity from its former leadership under Biju Patnaik.
This controversy reflects the ongoing political tension between the BJD and the BJP, with both parties vying for control over Odisha’s narrative and its future direction. The decision to alter such a significant observance has only added fuel to the fire, as it touches upon the state's historical memory and the figures that have shaped its modern political identity.
