BJD mounts pressure on BJP government over MMDR amendment act seeking special session of assembly

Former Chief Minister and President of Biju Janata DalNaveen Patnaik on Sunday (September 20, 2026) urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to pass a unanimous resolution demanding repeal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act 2026 ahead of a session of the Orissa Legislative Assembly scheduled to commence from September 22.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Majhi, Mr. Patnaik said, “this amendment effectively strips Odisha of its constitutional right to levy taxes on its mineral wealth. Twenty BJP MPs supported this amendment against the people of Odisha. This is what the mine owners wanted and had been fighting for.”

Calling upon Odisha CM to convene a special session of the Assembly and bring a unanimous resolution seeking the repeal of the MMDR Amendment, the BJD supremo said, “Odisha stands to suffer significant financial losses and faces an erosion of its constitutional rights.”

This is the third letter Mr. Patnaik has so far written expressing his concerns over the MMDR Amendment Act 2026. Apart from staging a number of public demonstrations, the BJD has also submitted a memorandum addressing President Droupadi Murmu for roll back of the Act.

“The constitutional right of the States to impose tax on mineral wealth and mineral-bearing lands was challenged in the courts by the mining companies. Our BJD government fought for many years in the High Court and Supreme Court to protect this constitutional right of Odisha,” wrote Mr. Patnaik.

He maintained, “following that, your government also fought before the Supreme Court against the mining companies. Under your direction, the Advocate General of Odisha had placed the State’s position before the Court, including the serious financial implications for Odisha if its power to levy taxes on minerals and mineral-bearing lands was taken away. Because of these sustained efforts, Odisha ultimately secured justice.”

“The Supreme Court, in its judgment delivered by a nine-judge constitutional bench, upheld the stand taken by Odisha against the claims of the mining companies. For Odisha, this judgment opened the way for recovery of crores of rupees in past dues and a minimum recurring revenue of nearly Rs. 12,000 crore every year. This revenue has profound financial implications for Odisha’s development and for securing a better future for our youth,” BJD supremo pointed out.

Passage of a unanimous resolution through a special session of the assembly would reaffirm the constitutional rights of the State that were upheld by the Supreme Court and go a long way towards protecting the interests of Odisha, he asserted. (EOM)