As the curtains draw on 2025, Odisha’s political landscape tells a tale of dramatic shifts, unexpected turns, and power dynamics redefined. From the BJP’s consolidation of power to seismic defections and a suspended opposition, the state witnessed it all. Odisha also saw a sharpened bipolar contest—between the ruling party’s push for rapid development and investment, and the opposition’s relentless scrutiny on governance, law and order, and delivery of promises. Here’s a look back at the defining moments that shaped Odisha’s eventful year.
BJP’s Odisha Odyssey: One Year of Power
The outgoing year 2025 was indeed the first complete calendar year under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The BJP assumed power in June 2024 after ending the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)’s 24-year rule, making 2025 a period of consolidation, policy implementation, and political testing for the new administration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the celebrations marking the first anniversary of the BJP government in Odisha. The main state-level function was held at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. lthough the government officially completed one year on June 12, 2025 (swearing-in date in 2024), the grand celebration was scheduled for June 20 to accommodate PM Modi’s visit. On the sidelines, PM Modi participated in a roadshow and Tiranga Yatra from the airport, and addressed a massive public gathering. He praised the Majhi government’s achievements, calling it an “anniversary of good governance, public service, and public trust.”Suspension of All Congress MLAs: A Defining Moment in Odisha Politics
The year began with a bang, marked by the unprecedented suspension of all 14 Congress MLAs from the Odisha Legislative Assembly in March, for the first time in political history of Odisha. The move, sparked by protests over alleged crimes against women, sent shockwaves through the state’s politics. The Congress MLAs had been staging protests since early March, demanding a House Committee to investigate the alleged rise in crimes against women under the BJP government. Their methods – wearing black attire, blowing whistles, and beating gongs – disrupted the Assembly proceedings, leading Speaker Surama Padhy to suspend all MLAs, including Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, for seven days.
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