Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22 (UDN): The seventh session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly begins on Tuesday, with the 12-day Monsoon Session scheduled to continue until October 3.
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The session will feature official legislative business, a day for Private Members’ Business and scheduled breaks, with the Assembly expected to take up several Bills and matters of public interest. The official Assembly portal has listed the session calendar from September 22 to October 3.
All-Party Meeting Held Ahead Of Session
Ahead of the session, Speaker Surama Padhy chaired an all-party meeting on Monday and sought cooperation from members to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, Opposition Deputy Leader Prasanna Acharya, Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik and other senior leaders attended the meeting.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the government was ready to discuss issues raised by the Opposition, while the Speaker appealed to members to maintain the dignity and orderly functioning of the House.
MMDR Amendment Act Likely To Be Major Flashpoint
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 is among the major issues the Opposition plans to raise during the session.
The BJD has sought a discussion on the financial implications of the amendment for Odisha, while Congress has also indicated that it will raise the issue in the House. The government has said it is prepared to participate in a discussion in whatever form the Speaker permits.
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has separately urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to convene a special Assembly session and seek a unanimous resolution calling for repeal of the amendment. His demand is based on his stated concerns over Odisha’s financial interests and constitutional rights relating to mineral resources.
Textbook Errors, Law And Order Among Other Issues
Apart from the MMDR issue, Opposition parties are expected to raise concerns over alleged errors in school textbooks, the law-and-order situation and other matters concerning the state.
The Opposition has been preparing its strategy ahead of the session, while the government has called for constructive debate and cooperation to ensure legislative business proceeds smoothly.
With the session beginning Tuesday, attention will now turn to the issues that make it to the floor of the House and the nature of the debates during the nine working days.
