In a show of strong dissent, legislators from the opposition BJD and Congress staged a walkout from the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday during the address of Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati as he hailed Odisha as the nation’s “growth engine”.
The opposition MLAs claimed there was no coherence between the governor’s claim and the ground reality.
The Budget session began with the national anthem and song as opposition members cooperated for nearly an hour. However, the atmosphere shifted when the Governor began outlining the state’s developmental milestones, prompting BJD and Congress members to exit in protest.
Opening his speech with the traditional “Jai Jagannath,” Governor Kambhampati asserted that Odisha is no longer waiting for recognition but is ready to lead as the growth engine of “Viksit Bharat.”
He said the Odisha government has prepared a comprehensive vision document for 2036, when the state turns 100; and 2047, marking a centenary of India’s Independence.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on June 20, 2025, unveiled a vision document, which targets transformation of Odisha into USD 500-billion economy by 2036 and USD 1.5-trillion economy by 2047, increasing the state’s contribution to the country’s GDP from 3 per cent to 5 per cent, with average growth rising from 7 per cent to 9.5 per cent through reforms,” the governor said.
The Governor highlighted the government’s commitment to building a ‘Samruddha (prosperous) Odisha’, with major infrastructure, industrial and welfare initiatives underway.
He credited Modi with extending significant central support and approving key projects for the state.
Highlighting industrial and technological strides, the Governor credited the central government for approving two state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing units under the India Semiconductor Mission, representing an investment of over Rs 2,066 crore. He also reinforced Odisha’s dominance in the steel sector, noting that the state’s 55 plants currently produce 23% of India’s total steel output, with plans to reach 100 million tonnes by 2030.
“Infrastructure is a silent enabler of every dream of Samruddha Odisha, 2036,” Kambhampati said.
“Odisha also holds the first position in production of steel and stainless steel in the country,” Kambhampati said, adding that the state is prepared to scale up its capacity to supply 100 million tonnes of steel by 2030.
The governor said Odisha has a major policy initiative with a total outlay of Rs 1,113.50 crore, to be implemented over a period of five years from 2025-26 to 2029-30, to strengthen biotechnology research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the state.
Addressed the Odisha Legislative Assembly at the commencement of the Budget Session today. Reaffirmed our commitment to inclusive development, good governance and the welfare of every citizen of the State.
I am confident that this session will pave the way for meaningful… pic.twitter.com/kAe5bHgujO
— Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati (@DrHariBabuK) February 17, 2026
The governor said the government has undertaken significant reforms in the minor minerals sector to enhance transparency and revenue generation.
As a result, revenue from minor minerals, which stood at Rs 1,195 crore in 2022-23, increased to Rs 1,776 crore in 2024-25, he said.
He pointed out that this reflects an annual growth rate of 19 per cent and an overall growth of more than 48 per cent over two years, demonstrating the positive impact of policy reforms and improved governance.
Expressing satisfaction over the achievements in anti-Naxal operations, with 48 Maoists neutralised, 78 arrested and 82 surrendered in the last five years, he said, “In 2025 alone, 25 Maoists were neutralised, including 17 in joint operations with Chhattisgarh Police and CRPF at the Nuapada-Gariyabandh border, while nine have been arrested and 29 surrendered.”
However, Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik was unimpressed, stating that the Governor’s speech was “long on words, but short on action.”
Echoing similar sentiment, Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam argued that while the Governor painted a “rosy picture,” the youth, farmers, and SC/ST communities continue to suffer due to a lack of coherence between official claims and government action.
