Senior BJD leader and former minister Ranendra Pratap Swain on Wednesday accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Odisha of failing to fulfil key electoral promises and repeatedly reversing policy decisions, describing the Mohan Charan Majhi-led administration as a “U-turn government”.
Addressing a press conference, Swain said the Centre recently celebrated 12 years in office while the Odisha government is set to complete its first year in power. However, he alleged that several major promises made by the BJP since 2014 remain unfulfilled.
He cited commitments such as bringing back black money and depositing Rs 15 lakh in every citizen’s bank account, creating two crore jobs annually, establishing 100 smart cities, doubling farmers’ income by 2022 and controlling inflation. According to him, these promises have gradually disappeared from the BJP’s public discourse.
Swain alleged that the Odisha government has adopted a similar approach by postponing many of its commitments under the banner of a “Prosperous Odisha by 2036” vision rather than delivering immediate results.
The former minister claimed that the state government had taken more than 50 policy and administrative “U-turns” within its first year in office. He particularly criticised the government over social security pensions, alleging that while the BJP had promised Rs 3,500 per month for beneficiaries under pension schemes, the enhanced amount was later restricted to citizens above 80 years of age and persons with severe disabilities.
He also accused the government of diluting benefits promised to farmers by reducing input assistance and introducing procurement restrictions that were not mentioned in its election manifesto. Similarly, he alleged that the Subhadra scheme fell short of the promises made to women voters during the election campaign.
On religious matters, Swain questioned the government on unfulfilled commitments of free Mahaprasad distribution and a queue-based darshan system at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. He further accused the government of failing to disclose the inquiry report on the missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar despite earlier assurances.
The BJD leader also cited the suspension of the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project, the delay in student union elections, the withdrawal of the proposed Pollution Under Control Certificate enforcement at fuel stations, and the non-implementation of a scheme to provide milk in mid-day meals as examples of policy reversals.
Criticising the government’s excise policy, Swain alleged that despite earlier promises of prohibition, it was now promoting liquor production and expanding retail outlets.
“The government’s repeated reversals have created confusion among people and exposed a lack of policy consistency,” he said, urging the BJP administration to honour its commitments and provide clear answers on the issues raised by the opposition.