SIR row: DMK to skip INDIA bloc meet again, blames Congress for Akhilesh's 'absence'

The INDIA bloc, a coalition of political parties, has announced a planned strike, or bandh, in the state of Odisha on October 8, 2026, to protest against the new mining law and other issues. The demonstration, which included members of various parties such as the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP, Samajwadi Party, and RJD, took place near the residence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Bhubaneswar.

The protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the BJP government's decision to adjourn the Assembly without addressing their questions regarding the MMDR Bill, vote manipulation, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Bhakta Charan Das, the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, urged the public to participate in the bandh, which aims to repeal the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, and address other demands including the resignation of certain ministers and the Chief Election Commissioner.

The bloc also plans to hold a separate demonstration in the mineral-rich Keonjhar district on October 7, 2026, to oppose the new mining law. The alliance claims that Odisha would suffer significant economic losses of approximately ₹1 lakh crore and ₹12,000 crore annually due to the implementation of the new mining law.