Opposition Parties Hold Rally in Rayagada Seeking Repeal of MMDR Amendment Act 2026

By Sunil Jena
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia

Bhubaneswar: A joint public meeting of INDIA bloc parties was held in Rayagada demanding the withdrawal of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026. Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(ML) Liberation were among the parties that participated in the programme.

At the gathering in Rayagada Sadar, Opposition parties raised their objections to the amended law and presented their demands. The leaders also appealed to supporters to make the proposed Assembly gherao programme on September 29 a success.

The political campaign around the MMDR amendment is now becoming an important issue for the Opposition in Odisha. The participating parties have argued that the state government should take up the matter with the Centre and seek a review or withdrawal of the legislation.

As part of their demands, the Opposition parties have called upon the state government to convene an all-party meeting immediately. They have also demanded a special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly so that the state’s position on the issue can be formally discussed and conveyed to the Centre.

The demand for a special Assembly session is not new. Opposition parties had raised the issue earlier as well. The government, however, had stated that there was no need for a separate special session on the matter.

The issue is now expected to remain part of the political debate during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Odisha Assembly. With the Opposition planning an Assembly gherao on September 29, the MMDR amendment could become one of the issues around which the Opposition seeks to put pressure on the state government.

The INDIA bloc parties had reportedly discussed the proposed September 29 Assembly gherao during a meeting held in August and decided to proceed with the programme.

Sunil Jena’s Observation

The MMDR amendment has emerged as a common issue for several Opposition parties in Odisha, giving them an opportunity to coordinate their political campaign. The September 29 Assembly gherao will indicate how strongly the issue is taken up on the ground and how the state government responds to the Opposition’s demand for a broader discussion.

Author Profile

Sunil Jena: Sunil Jena is the Editor of The Politics Odia, an independent digital platform that delivers fearless political analysis, ground reports, and investigative stories from Odisha. Known for bold storytelling and grassroots connections, Sunil is shaping a new era of regional journalism.