Odisha’s Commerce and Transport Minister, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, on Friday, alleged that the ongoing cease-work strike by the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha (association of drivers) has become entangled in party politics. This allegation follows an appeal from the association’s president, Prashant Menduli, urging protestors not to halt vehicles traveling to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Save the Constitution’ rally in Bhubaneswar on Friday, July 11.
Jena, taking to his X handle, said, “There is no need for further protests, as the government, in the interest of drivers, has already listened to and discussed implementing all the demands of the protesting drivers’ association.”
“Politics emerged in the protest with the strike being postponed by a day in support of the Congress rally scheduled for July 11,” he further added.
ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନ କରୁଥିବା ଡ଼୍ରାଇଭର ମହାସଂଘ ର ସମସ୍ତ ଦାବିକୁ ଡ଼୍ରାଇଭରଙ୍କ ହିତରେ ଥିବା ସରକାର ଶୁଣି ଓ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରୀ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଆଲୋଚନା ହୋଇସାରିଥିବା ବେଳେ ପୁଣି ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନ ର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ନାହିଁ।
ଆସନ୍ତା ୧୧ ତାରିଖରେ ଥିବା କଂଗ୍ରେସ ରାଲିକୁ ସମର୍ଥନ ଦେଇ ଦିନକ ପାଇଁ ସ୍ତଗିତ ରଖିବା ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନ ରେ ରାଜନୀତି ଦେଖାଦେଇଛି।
ନିରୀହ, ସରଳ…
— Bibhuti Bhusan Jena (@BibhutiJena93) July 10, 2025
Jena also appealed association leaders not to mislead innocent, honest drivers in the name of the movement. “I appeal to my fellow drivers to withdraw from the protest,” he stated.
Odisha Congress on Thursday shared a video message from the association’s president Menduli. In the video, Menduli appealed fellow drivers not to halt vehicles carrying Congress supporters to Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled public meeting.
Menduli also clarified that despite the ongoing state-wide protest, the association received a request from a Congress MLA for support in ensuring smooth transport for attendees of Rahul Gandhi’s event.
“We are continuing our protest, but I urge my driver brothers not to stop any buses or vehicles carrying Congress supporters to Rahul Gandhi’s meeting,” Menduli said.
“There’s no need to panic. I appeal to all drivers to allow these vehicles to pass without any disruption, as Congress has sought our support for this event,” he added.
The cease-work strike by drivers across Odisha entered its fourth day on Friday.
Meanwhile, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das previously accused the state government of intentionally escalating the strike by the Odisha Driver Mahasangha in an attempt to sabotage senior Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming visit.
