Kendrapara, Oct 10 (UDN): A dispute over a government programme triggered a political confrontation at the Pattamundai Block office in Odisha’s Kendrapara district on Friday, after Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers locked the premises and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers subsequently broke open the lock to enter the office.
The incident followed allegations by BJD-backed elected representatives that they had not been informed about the scheduled programme and that the Block Development Officer (BDO) was functioning arbitrarily. The face-off disrupted normal activities at the Block office and prompted police deployment to prevent further escalation.
Tent Removed, Block Office Gates Locked
According to reports, the controversy began on Thursday evening when the BJD Block Chairperson and other representatives dismantled a tent erected on the Block office premises for the government programme.
On Friday morning, the gates were locked by the protesting BJD representatives, who alleged that they had not received information about the event. The representatives were also staging an indefinite hunger strike over their grievances against the BDO.
The protest escalated tensions at the administrative office, turning a dispute over the programme into a confrontation between supporters of the two political parties.
BJP Representatives Break Open Lock
The situation intensified when the BJP-backed Block Vice-Chairperson and other elected representatives broke open the lock on the main gate and entered the premises.
The BJP-backed representatives questioned the decision to shut the office, maintaining that they had been informed about the government programme. The opposing claims over communication regarding the event further fuelled the dispute.
The confrontation between BJD and BJP workers created tension in the area and affected the functioning of the Block office, prompting authorities to take steps to maintain order.
BDO Says Representatives Were Informed
Responding to the allegations, the Block Development Officer said all elected representatives had been informed on October 6 about the government programme scheduled to take place at the Block office.
The BDO also confirmed that a police complaint had been lodged over the dismantling of the tent on the premises.
The statement presented a contrasting account of the dispute, with the protesting BJD representatives questioning the administration’s handling of the programme while the BDO maintained that information had been communicated in advance.
Police Deployed as Tensions Ease
Police personnel were deployed at the site to prevent further confrontation between supporters of the two parties and maintain law and order.
The situation had reportedly begun to normalise by the time of reporting, although the dispute over the programme and the allegations against the BDO remained at the centre of the controversy.
The incident has highlighted tensions among elected representatives at the local level, with the immediate dispute over a government programme spilling into a political face-off and disrupting administrative activities at the Pattamundai Block office.