He pointed out that the regional party has been raising this issue at various national platforms such as the Finance Commission, Niti Aayog, and the central government for the past 24 years, despite knowing that Odisha does not meet the criteria set by the Finance Commission. Majhi made these remarks during his reply to the debate on the Appropriation (vote-on-account) Bill, 2024, in the State Assembly.
“Special category status was first recommended by the Fifth Finance Commission in 1969,” the CM noted. “The criteria include hilly areas, low population density, border states, economically and infrastructurally backward states, and those without a source of resource mobilization.”
He emphasized that Odisha does not meet any of these criteria, leading to repeated rejections of the state's request. “The demand has always been political, surfacing before every election for BJD's political advantage. The previous government’s goal was never to safeguard the interests of the people,” Majhi concluded.
Addressing allegations from the opposition that the Union Budget lacks benefits for Odisha despite the state sending 20 MPs, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi criticized the BJD members' walkout before his response, asserting it demonstrated their inability to face the truth.
"It is regrettable that the opposition left without listening. This action was pre-planned. The Biju Janata Dal has never been in opposition before, so they are probably practicing now," Majhi commented.
In response to claims that Bihar and Andhra Pradesh received a larger share of the central budget despite sending only 12 and 16 MPs respectively, Majhi questioned whether BJD members had reviewed the Union Budget thoroughly. He highlighted that Odisha's allocation in the railway budget is 12.5 times greater than before 2014, asking, "Isn't that a special package for the state?"
Majhi noted that the Centre allocated 9.57 lakh houses under PMAY (Gramin) for 2023-24, which is three times the previous allotments. He criticized the BJD government for failing to disburse even a single house, accusing them of prioritizing party interests.
He also mentioned that the Centre sanctioned the coastal highway and Bhubaneswar ring road projects, which the BJD government had significantly delayed for political reasons.
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