INDI Alliance Stages 12-Hour Odisha Bandh Over Mining Law and Textbook Rows; Transport and Businesses Hit

BHUBANESWAR: A 12-hour statewide shutdown (bandh) called by opposition parties aligned with the INDI Alliance brought mixed results across Odisha on Thursday, October 8, 2026. While the strike successfully disrupted transport and shuttered businesses in several districts, its overall impact remained limited due to low public participation.The protest, which began at 6:00 AM, was organized to demand the withdrawal of a controversial new mining law, the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over alleged errors in school textbooks, and administrative action regarding suspected irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

• Mixed Public Response: The overall impact of the shutdown was described as moderate to low in several regions, as a lower turnout of active protesters prevented a complete standstill.
• Partial Disruption: In areas where the strike took hold, shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, and educational institutions remained closed during the morning hours. Public transport, including buses, autorickshaws, and taxis, faced disruptions, leaving commuters stranded at major terminuses.
• Highway Blockades: Demonstrators carrying party flags blocked key intersections and national highways by burning tires. Major protest points included Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Balasore, Rayagada, Kendrapara, Bolangir, Berhampur, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur.
• Essential Services Operational: Emergency and essential services—including hospitals, ambulance networks, fire services, pharmacies, and milk supply lines—were strictly excluded from the strike’s scope and functioned normally.
  

The joint front for the shutdown included several alliance partners: the Indian National Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Samajwadi Party, RJD, and JMM.

Senior police officials confirmed that extensive security arrangements were deployed across vulnerable zones to maintain law and order. Ahead of the protest, authorities held discussions with organizers to ensure that all demonstrations remained peaceful and within constitutional limits, preventing any major untoward incidents.