12-hour bandh by INDIA bloc disrupts normal life across Odisha

Normal life across Odisha was disrupted on Thursday as opposition parties of the Congress-led INDIA bloc observed a 12-hour statewide bandh over four demands, including the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Transportation services were among the worst affected, with members of the Congress, communist parties and other INDIA bloc constituents blocking National and State Highways at several locations. Protesters reportedly burned tyres on roads and staged picketing at key points in cities across the state.

Youth Congress workers also organised bike rallies, while passenger buses, auto-rickshaws and trucks largely remained off the roads. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on highways, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Train services were also affected at several locations for a few hours as protesters attempted to stop trains at railway stations. Scuffles between security personnel and INDIA bloc workers and leaders were reported from some places.

Private institutions, business establishments and other commercial establishments in major cities also remained closed during the bandh.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das said the shutdown was being observed peacefully and claimed that people were extending support to the protest.

The four demands include the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, repeal of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, the resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged errors in textbooks, and immediate relief and compensation for people affected by recent floods in the state.

“The impact of the bandh is more visible in rural areas than in cities. Schools, colleges, institutions, markets and transportation services have been affected across the state,” Das said.

He said some relaxation had been provided in Bhubaneswar to minimise inconvenience to tourists and people travelling from outside Odisha. Emergency services were also allowed to operate.

Das appealed to party workers and supporters to maintain peace, saying the bandh was being observed peacefully and that the protesters were following the path of Mahatma Gandhi.

He warned that the agitation could be intensified and expanded over the next two months if the government failed to address the four demands.