Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched a door-to-door postcard signature campaign in Sambalpur, Odisha, to push for action on what the party says are several long-standing demands concerning Sambalpur and Western Odisha.
Former Odisha minister and BJD leader Rohit Pujari said the campaign is aimed at highlighting promises that, according to the party, were made by the BJP before the Odisha Assembly elections but which have not been fulfilled.
BJD workers are visiting households with printed postcards and collecting signatures from residents as part of the campaign. Pujari said the signatures are coming in batches and will be sent to the authorities.
AIIMS Facility among Key Demands
One of the main demands raised by the BJD is the establishment of an AIIMS facility in Sambalpur.
Pujari claimed that the BJP had promised an AIIMS facility in the region before the elections but that no concrete approval or establishment has been taken. The party is portraying its demand as part of a wider push for better healthcare infrastructure in Western Odisha.
Sambalpur already has major educational and medical institutions, including Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), but the BJD campaign is seeking an AIIMS-level institution for the region.
Demand for High Court Bench
The second major issue highlighted by the campaign is the demand for a High Court Bench in Western Odisha.
Access to justice has been a regional issue in Odisha for years in which political leaders, lawyers and organisations in Western Odisha have been pressing for a permanent High Court Bench.
In addition, recent reporting also shows BJD leaders (Rohit Pujari, among others) in conversation with lawyers around the High Court Bench issue and presenting it as an issue of access to justice and regional equity.
#WATCH | Sambalpur, Odisha: BJD launches door-to-door postcard signature campaign seeking the fulfilment of several key demands for Sambalpur and Western Odisha.
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2026
Former Odisha Minister Rohit Pujari says, "...We are highlighting the unfulfilled promises made by the BJP government… pic.twitter.com/3UrFWOtbgV
Official Recognition for Sambalpuri
The campaign also focuses on the demand for official recognition of the Sambalpuri language.
Pujari said that recognising Sambalpuri would help to acknowledge the distinct linguistic and cultural identity of Western Odisha. The issue is deeply rooted in Sambalpur and surrounding parts of the region.
The campaign therefore combines development-related demands with a cultural and linguistic issue, making the BJD initiative a regional phenomenon.
Civic Problems Also Highlighted
The fourth major issue raised by Pujari concerns the condition of civic infrastructure in Sambalpur.
He claimed that civic conditions in the city have deteriorated and said the postcard campaign would allow residents to express their concerns directly through their signatures.
The BJD says it will collect signatures in batches of 10,000 before submitting them to the concerned authorities.
