As BJP govt. in Odisha nears one year in power, grievance redressal emerges as key tool to connect with people

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s personal involvement has lent credibility to the grievance redressal process.
| Photo Credit: ANI

As the BJP government in Odisha, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, approaches its first anniversary, its emphasis on grievance redressal has become the cornerstone of its political narrative.

Since assuming office in June last year, Mr. Majhi has been personally overseeing grievance redressal, conducting weekly hearings at the CM’s grievance cell every Monday. These sessions, attended by key Ministers and Secretaries, provide a platform for thousands of people, including the disabled, senior citizens, and those in urgent need of assistance, to voice their concerns.

Despite logistical challenges, the Chief Minister has persisted in attending these hearings, tackling a range of issues, including requests for medical aid, land and property disputes, pension delays, and public infrastructure concerns. So far, he has conducted 10 such hearings.

Contrasting approaches

The BJP’s focus on grievance redressal starkly contrasts with the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, whose ambitious grievance programmes were marred by poor execution and spectacle-driven campaigns led by V.K. Pandian, former bureaucrat and close aide of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. These efforts, particularly ahead of the 2024 elections, devolved into a public relations fiasco, contributing to growing public disillusionment and ultimately playing a significant role in the BJD’s electoral defeat.

In a bid to project a more hands-on approach, Mr. Majhi recently took grievance redressal hearings out of Bhubaneswar. Last month, he held a grievance cell hearing in Sambalpur, a key district in western Odisha, and has announced this month’s hearing in Berhampur, a major centre in southern Odisha. “This will give marginalised communities a platform to voice their concerns,” said a senior government official.

The BJP government has also introduced a single-window system under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, allowing for on-the-spot financial approvals for urgent medical cases. In recent hearings, the CM sanctioned ₹30.5 lakh from the fund for 24 people with serious health conditions.

According to State government data, 10,234 grievance pleas have been received during Monday hearings, with 8,524 (83%) resolved. Overall, 68,756 (80%) of the 85,650 pleas submitted through various platforms since June 2024 have been addressed.

However, the effectiveness of the grievance redressal system is questionable, with critics arguing that the government’s focus on high-profile hearings diverts attention from strengthening grassroots mechanisms at district and block levels, where most grievances originate.

While the BJP’s decision to hold hearings outside Bhubaneswar has been touted as an effort at decentralising governance, several politicians see it as a calculated effort to project accessibility and consolidate the party’s image ahead of future elections.

The BJP, aware of the BJD government’s failures, has avoided overt spectacle but risks falling into a similar trap by prioritising visible leadership over institutional reform.

The deeper challenge

For now, Mr. Majhi’s personal involvement has lent credibility to the grievance redressal process. However, experts say the party must confront the deeper challenge of transforming a system used for political leverage into one delivering meaningful results as years of performative politics has eroded public trust in governance in Odisha, blurring the line between narrative and reality.