The BJD unleashed its first major bribery salvo on the BJP government in Odisha

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday (December 19, 2024) attacked the Mohan Majhi-led government in Odisha and asked why the involvement of a cabinet minister in a bribery case under investigation by the CBI was ignored.

This is the first major bribery allegation by a regional party since the BJP came to power in Odisha in June this year.

The Nabarangpur unit of the BJD demanded that Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Nityanand Gond be included in the scope of the CBI investigation.

“When the CBI summoned the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Secretary, Vishnupada Sethi, who was removed from the post, over alleged irregularities in the awarding of contracts and unaccounted cash seizure of ₹10.00 lakh, departmental minister Mr. Gond said that It is surprising not to face scrutiny,” alleged the senior. BJD leader and former minister Rameshchandra Majhi.

Mr. Ramesh said: “Any work worth more than ₹ 1 crore within the department requires the approval of the state cabinet. However, on November 11, 2024, the secretary awarded two separate contracts totaling ₹ 37 crore to the central public sector unit (PSU) Bridges and Roofs Corporation. Such activities cannot be done without the approval of the departmental minister.”

The BJD said the awarding of contracts worth ₹ 387 crore by former secretary of Central PSUs like Bridges and Roofs Corporation, National Bridge Construction Corporation, Water and Power Consultancy Services and Central Electronics Limited raised serious questions about transparency. .

Kickbacks and cost escalation

“Central PSUs often bypass the Odisha Public Works Department (OPWD) code in their tender processes. Instead, they execute panelized projects through internal tenders or a select group of contractors, thereby increasing project costs by 7% to 10%. These contractors often are linked to huge kickbacks,” alleged BJD leaders.

Without Gond’s approval, it was impossible to award contracts worth Rs 178 crore to Water and Power Consulting Services, Rs 103 crore to Central Electronics Limited, Rs 41 crore to National Bridge Construction Corporation and Rs 37 crore to bridges. And Roofs Corporation, they said.

The regional party pointed out that the Water and Power Consultancy Services had been blacklisted by the Sudargarh district administration on March 4, 2024 for irregularities in the excavation of ponds. Two months ago, when the minister himself submitted a reply in the state assembly regarding the blacklisting of the company, how could the secretary give the contract to the said PSU, said senior BJD leader and former MP Pradeep Majhi.

The party wanted to know whether the CBI probe into the bribery case was “partial”. He said that the role of the Chief Minister is also under doubt.

Meanwhile, BJD announced its 28th celebration^th Foundation Day on December 26 with renewed vigor in all constituencies. Deviprasad Mishra, chairman of the program’s coordination committee, said: “We will highlight the large-scale projects and welfare programs launched earlier by our government. Also, we will draw people’s attention to the increase in the prices of essential items.”