The Nirvik Bureau, Bhubaneswar, 27 December 2025
Odisha’s new era begins with a ribbon-cutting, ends with a lynching
In a bold move to redefine governance, Odisha has officially declared that development is no longer about roads, schools, or safety. No, no. Development is now measured in the number of rallies held, the length of red carpets unrolled, and the number of projects inaugurated that will never be completed. Welcome to the grand new era of “Vision 2047,” where the only thing concrete is the photo-op.
At the helm of this visionary ship are two towering figures: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whose schedule now consists of 90% rallies and 10% pretending to read files, and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who has redefined “people’s leader” as “person who can speak for 90 minutes without once mentioning law and order.”
Every day now brings a new “historic” event. A bridge is inaugurated with great fanfare, even though only one pillar exists and the river it’s supposed to cross has already changed course. A hospital is “launched” with a plaque, though the building is still a pile of sand and dreams. A school is “opened” with a ribbon-cutting, but the only thing being taught inside is how to dodge falling debris.
The state’s new slogan? “Inauguration First, Completion Later.” And why not? After all, what good is a functioning hospital if it doesn’t have a photo of a smiling CM with a giant pair of scissors?
Meanwhile, the real state of Odisha is best described as “perpetual crisis with occasional fireworks.” Law and order? Let’s just say the police are busy managing VIP security and crowd control at rallies, not preventing lynching or protecting women. The state’s crime statistics now come with a disclaimer: “Data may be inaccurate due to ongoing cultural festivals and political events.”
Women’s safety? The government’s new strategy is to advise women to avoid going out after dark. A brilliant plan, really. Why fix the streets when you can just keep people off them? The only thing safer than a woman walking alone at night is a project that’s been inaugurated but never built.
Lynching, mob violence, and vigilante justice? These are now treated as “local issues” that “don’t reflect the state’s true spirit.” The true spirit, apparently, is cutting ribbons while ignoring the blood on the ground.
But don’t worry, the leadership is fully aware of the situation. How do we know? Because they keep holding more rallies. More meetings with different communities. More promises of “a new Odisha.” The only thing missing is a single, coherent vision that doesn’t involve a stage, a microphone, and a crowd of party workers waving flags.
The state’s new development model is simple:
- Step 1: Announce a project.
- Step 2: Inaugurate it with great fanfare.
- Step 3: Forget about it.
- Step 4: Repeat.
And if anyone dares to ask, “Where is the hospital?” or “Why are people being lynched?” the answer is always the same: “We are working on it. Meanwhile, please attend the next rally.”
So here’s to Odisha’s new golden age. An age where the only thing that’s truly “developed” is the art of political theatre. An age where the state’s mission statement is written in glitter and forgotten by morning. An age where the only clear vision is the one in the camera lens.
Because in this new Odisha, the only thing that matters is not whether the project is built, but whether the ribbon was cut with style.
