Row over BJP MLA’s remark on Koshala joining Odisha; BJD protests, Congress demands answer from Pradhan

Jairam Ramesh criticizes BJP MLA for not standing during Odisha state song, sparking controversy in Assembly.

The Congress on Monday (March 10, 2025) attacked the BJP over its Odisha MLA Jayanarayan Mishra's recent remarks that Koshala becoming a part of Odisha was a 'historical' mistake, and questioned Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's silence on the issue.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, shared a media report on X, which claimed that Mr. Mishra did not stand up when the State song 'Bande Utkal Janani' was sung at an event.

"Dear Dharmendra Pradhan ji, why your silence on the statements and actions of your Sambalpur colleague who did not stand up when the Odisha state song 'Bande Utkal Janani' was sung," Mr. Ramesh asked on X.

Mr. Pradhan, who is the Education Minister at the Centre, belongs to Odisha.

It was a historical blunder for Koshala to become a part of Odisha in 1936 as the region has remained neglected, senior BJP MLA Mishra said on Saturday.

Addressing a government function in Sambalpur where financial assistance was disbursed under the Subhadra Yojana, Mr. Mishra said Odisha was formed with the merger of three regions — Utkal that comprised the coastal region, Kalinga in the south, and Koshala in the west.

"The merger of Koshala during the formation of Odisha was a mistake. We have been neglected," said Mr. Mishra, the BJP MLA from Sambalpur, the biggest city in the region.