Odisha Municipal Chairpersons Meet Naveen Patnaik Over Curtailment of Powers
Bhubaneswar: A delegation of fifteen municipal council chairpersons from across Odisha met former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik at the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) office, voicing strong opposition to recent government directives that they say undermine the authority of elected representatives.
The meeting, led by former minister Pratap Jena under the Odisha State Municipal Council Federation, highlighted growing discontent over a government letter issued on January 5, 2026.
The directive significantly enhances the financial powers of executive officers, allowing them to approve expenditures up to Rs 3 lakh, issue cheques up to Rs 10 lakh without countersignatures, and make procurements without competitive bidding.
Chairpersons argued that these measures strip elected bodies of their autonomy, making it difficult to implement development and welfare projects at the grassroots level.
They warned that the changes could erode democratic accountability in urban governance.
Responding to their concerns, Naveen Patnaik criticised the move as undemocratic and an attempt to weaken local self‑governance.
He urged the chairpersons to remain connected with the people and continue their public service despite the restrictions.
The controversy underscores mounting tensions between the ruling administration and the opposition over urban governance reforms, with potential implications for Odisha’s expanding urban electorate.
