By Sunil Jena, Editor-in-Chief
Bhubaneswar: A major political discussion erupted inside the Odisha Legislative Assembly on 4 December 2025 after BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy raised a pointed question to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The MLA wanted to know how various government departments manage their social media activities and whether they depend on private agencies for this work. He also sought department-wise data on how much money is being spent on social media management in the current year.
In response, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi presented detailed information that immediately stirred the political atmosphere. According to the data placed in the House, the Urban Development Department has engaged a private firm named Omcom Media Pvt. Ltd., owned by journalist Yajati Karan, for managing its social media activities. For the current year, the department has paid an amount of Rs 49,56,000 to this agency.
The revelation created a new debate both inside and outside the Assembly. Several questions emerged: Why was such a large amount paid to a single agency? What are the specific services provided under this contract? Was a proper tendering process followed before awarding the work? And is there any conflict of interest since the company is owned by a working journalist?
These concerns have given rise to fresh political reactions. Opposition leaders argue that the expenditure appears unusually high for a single department’s social media needs. They claim that this pattern suggests deeper problems in the outsourcing process and have demanded that the government clarify how agencies are selected and monitored.
Government circles, however, maintain that social media has become an essential tool for communication, public outreach, and citizen engagement. They argue that technical work of this scale often requires specialised agencies with adequate manpower and infrastructure. Still, the debate remains open because the Assembly’s reply did not include a detailed justification for the cost or the selection process.
The issue has now moved beyond technical questions and entered the political domain. Many believe that the matter will continue to dominate discussions in the coming days as departments prepare to submit more data, and the Opposition seeks further accountability.
For now, the Assembly has been left with more questions than answers. Whether this spending reflects genuine communication needs or signals a larger pattern of mismanagement is something the government may soon need to explain more clearly.
