Centre Renames Raj Bhavan as ‘Lok Bhavan’; Political Storm Erupts in Odisha Assembly
Raj Bhavan Now ‘Lok Bhavan’: Union Home Ministry Approves Name Change for Odisha Residences: In a major administrative update, the Central Government has officially renamed Raj Bhavan as ‘Lok Bhavan’, following a decision endorsed by the Union Home Ministry. As per the newly issued notification, the Bhubaneswar and Puri Raj Bhavans will now be known as Lok Bhavan, marking another step in the government’s ongoing initiative to give state institutions more citizen-centric names. Earlier, the Odisha State Secretariat had been renamed Lok Seva Bhavan, reflecting a similar philosophy of public service.
Assembly in Uproar as BJD MLA Tears Resolution
Tensions flared in the Odisha Assembly today after BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain dramatically tore up a resolution during proceedings. The resolution pertained to water control and prevention, for which Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh was responding to queries raised by opposition member Khuntia.
Swain objected sharply to the Minister’s reply, leading to a heated confrontation, after which he tore the resolution on the floor of the House. The act triggered chaos in the Assembly, prompting both BJD and Congress members to walk out in protest.
Health Ministers Face Off Over Healthcare Issues
Earlier in the day, the Assembly witnessed another intense exchange—this time between the current Health Minister and former Health Minister—as both confronted each other over allegations of poor healthcare conditions in their respective constituencies.
During Question Hour, BJD MLA Niranjan Pujari highlighted that while the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Sonepur ranks among the top in infrastructure development nationally, it suffers from a severe shortage of doctors.
He accused the current administration of prioritizing the Minister’s own constituency by deploying “good doctors” there while leaving other regions understaffed.
Pujari claimed that due to this imbalance, many patients are being deprived of essential medical care, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction among locals.
Political Climate Heats Up
With the Raj Bhavan renaming, rising tensions in the Assembly, and contentious debates over healthcare distribution, Odisha’s political atmosphere remains charged. More confrontations and clarifications are expected when the House reconvenes tomorrow.
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