Odisha bandh disrupts life as INDIA bloc protests key demands

A 12-hour statewide shutdown, or bandh, called by the INDIA bloc disrupted daily life across Odisha on Thursday. The protest was organized to demand the repeal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over textbook errors, and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following allegations of electoral roll irregularities.

The shutdown caused significant disruptions to public transport, with buses and auto-rickshaws largely absent from the roads, leaving many passengers stranded. Protesters staged road blockades, burned tires, and attempted to disrupt railway services, including a Rail Roko protest at Bhubaneswar Railway Station. In Bhadrak, a scuffle between protesters and police led to the detention of one individual.

Security was heavily bolstered to maintain order, with dozens of police platoons and hundreds of officers deployed in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. While the Congress party described the bandh as a success, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) maintained its policy of equidistance, choosing not to support the shutdown despite previously expressing concerns over similar issues.