Bhubaneswar, March 8: Senior BJP leader and MLA Jaynarayan Mishra has sparked a political controversy with his recent comments about the merger of Koshala with Odisha. Mishra, while attending an event in Sambalpur for the distribution of the second installment of the BJP government's flagship Subhadra Yojana, called the merger a "mistake."
In his remarks, Mishra emphasized that the term ‘Utkal’ is primarily associated with regions like Cuttack, Puri, and Balasore. He stated that the state of Odisha was formed after the merger of Utkal, Koshala, and Kalinga, but lamented that regions like Koshala and Kalinga have been sidelined while Utkal continues to dominate the state's recognition.
He criticized the lack of political and cultural representation for Koshala and Kalinga within the broader narrative of Odisha, claiming that the people of these regions have been neglected and exploited. Mishra further asserted, "The people of Sambalpur must understand that Utkal refers to Cuttack, Puri, and Balasore. Odisha was created through the merger of Utkal, Koshala, and Kalinga. We participated in the movement for our merger with Odisha, but looking back, it was our biggest mistake."
Mishra's statement has triggered a political debate, although the state government has yet to comment officially on his remarks.
