Jayanarayan Mishra
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = File:Jayanarayan Mishra.jpg
| office = Member Of Odisha Legislative Assembly
| term_start = 4 June 2024
| term_end =
| constituency = Sambalpur
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = Mohan Charan Majhi
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office1 = Minister of Commerce & Transport
Government of Odisha
| term_start1 = 18 May 2004
| term_end1 = 9 March 2009
| 1blankname1 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1 = Naveen Patnaik
| predecessor1 = Droupadi Murmu
| office2 = Member of Odisha Legislative Assembly
| term_start2 = 23 May 2019
| predecessor2 = Raseswari Panigrahi
| constituency2 = Sambalpur
| term_start3 = 2000
| term_end3 = 2014
| predecessor3 = Durga Shankar Patnaik
| successor3 = Raseswari Panigrahi
| constituency3 = Sambalpur
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1963|6|10}}
| birth_place =
| party = Bharatiya Janata Party
| spouse = Jyotsna Mishra
| children = 1 son, 1 daughter
| father = Artatran Mishra
| education = Bachelor of Arts
| profession = Agriculturist
| source = https://odishaassembly.nic.in/memberprofile.aspx?img=128
}}
Jayanarayan Mishra (born 10 June 1963) is an Indian politician from Odisha, affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is a senior leader in the Odisha Legislative Assembly and has represented the Sambalpur constituency five times.{{Cite web |title=Jayanarayan Mishra bags Sambalpur seat |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/may/24/jayanarayan-mishra-bags-sambalpur-seat-1981100.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The New Indian Express|date=24 May 2019 }}{{Cite web |title=चौथी बार संबलपुर से जीते जय नारायण मिश्र |url=https://www.jagran.com/odisha/sambalpur-assembly-election-sambalpur-seat-win-bjp-19249987.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Dainik Jagran |language=hi}} Mishra has held various key positions, including Minister of Commerce & Transport and Leader of the Opposition{{Cite news |title=Sambalpur MLA Is Leader Of Opposition |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/sambalpur-mla-is-leader-of-oppn/articleshow/93242766.cms |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The Times of India |date=31 July 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra appointed as leader of opposition in Odisha Assembly |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/odisha-four-times-mla-senior-bjp-leader-jaynarayan-mishra-elected-leader-of-opposition-1981925-2022-07-30 |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=India Today |date=30 July 2022 |language=en}} in the Odisha Assembly.
Early life and education
Jayanarayan Mishra was born on 10 June 1963{{Cite web |title=Shri Jayanarayan Mishra |url=https://odishaassembly.nic.in/image.aspx?img=128 |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Odisha Legislative Assembly}} in Sambalpur, Odisha. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from NAC College, Burla. Coming from a family involved in agriculture, Mishra has maintained close ties with rural and social service activities throughout his career.
Political career
Mishra began his political journey with the Bharatiya Janata Party and was first elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Sambalpur constituency in 2000. Since then, he has been re-elected multiple times, establishing himself as a prominent leader in the region.
=Ministerial Role=
He served as the minister of commerce and transport in the Odisha government during the BJD–BJP coalition government headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
=Leader of the Opposition=
In 2022, Jayanarayan Mishra was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, representing the BJP.{{Cite news |last=Barik |first=Satyasundar |date=2022-07-30 |title=BJP's Jai Narayan Mishra appointed new leader of opposition in Odisha Assembly |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjps-jai-narayan-mishra-appointed-new-leader-of-opposition-in-odisha-assembly/article65702930.ece |access-date=2022-11-01 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |title=Odisha Assembly: BJP's Jayanarayan Mishra elected as leader of opposition |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2022/jul/31/odisha-assembly-bjps-jayanarayan-mishraelected-as-leader-of-opposition-2482577.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The New Indian Express|date=31 July 2022 }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Jayanarayan named Leader of Opp |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/jayanarayan-named-leader-of-opp.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The Pioneer |language=en}}
Controversies
=Alleged misconduct with police officer=
In 2023, Mishra was involved in a controversy when an FIR was filed against him for alleged misconduct with a police officer.{{Cite news |title=Jayanarayan Mishra's Attack on Woman IIC: OPSA condemns, seeks stringent action |url=https://kalingatv.com/odisha/jayanarayan-mishras-attack-on-woman-iic-opsa-condemns-seeks-stringent-action/ |work=Kalinga TV}}{{Cite news |title=Case against Odisha BJP leader for assaulting on-duty woman cop, he denies |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhubaneswar/case-against-odisha-bjp-leader-for-assaulting-on-duty-woman-cop-he-denies-8447666/ |work=The Indian Express}} Mishra denied the allegations. The case attracted significant media attention in Odisha.
=Remarks on Odisha State Song and Regional Identity=
In 2025, Mishra sparked political controversy by questioning the state song "Bande Utkal Janani," arguing that it praises only the Utkal region and neglects other regions like Koshal and Kalinga. He suggested renaming it "Bande Odisha Janani" to represent all 30 districts. The opposition criticized his comments,{{Cite news |title=BJD Slams Jaynarayan Mishra's Statement as Harmful to Odisha's Unity |url=https://pragativadi.com/bjd-slams-jaynarayan-mishras-statement-as-harmful-to-odishas-unity/ |work=Pragativadi}} which led to a clarification from the Odisha government distancing itself from his views, stating they were his personal opinions.{{Cite news |title='His own view': Odisha distances itself from MLA Mishra's comments |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2025/Mar/12/his-own-view-odisha-distances-itself-from-mla-mishras-comments |work=The New Indian Express}}
In April 2025, Mishra’s daughter stirred political controversy by sitting through the Odisha state song during a public event.{{Cite news |title=BJP leader Jayanarayan's daughter sits through state song, stirs political controversy |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2025/Apr/01/bjp-leader-jayanarayans-daughter-sits-through-state-song-stirs-political-controversy |work=The New Indian Express}} Some political groups saw this as disrespectful, further fueling tensions around regional identity issues.{{Cite news |title=Row over BJP MLA's remark on Koshala joining Odisha; BJD protests, Congress demands answer from Pradhan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/odisha/row-over-bjp-mlas-remark-on-koshala-joining-odisha-bjd-protests-congress-demands-answer-from-pradhan/article69312407.ece |work=The Hindu}}
=Statement on Merger of Koshal with Odisha=
Mishra further ignited controversy by calling the merger of the western Odisha region Koshal with the state a "historic blunder,"{{Cite news |title=Koshal's merger with Odisha, a historic blunder, says Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2025/Mar/09/koshals-merger-with-odisha-a-historic-blunder-says-sambalpur-mla-jayanarayan-mishra |work=The New Indian Express}} claiming the region has been neglected and exploited in various sectors. This statement led to protests and disruptions in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, with opposition parties accusing him of promoting divisive ideas and undermining Odisha’s unity. The BJD demanded an apology and urged the BJP leadership to take a clear stance on his remarks.
=Incident of Abusing Police Officer=
In April 2025, Mishra was involved in a controversy for allegedly abusing a police officer{{Cite news |title=Sambalpur MLA Jaynarayan Mishra accused of abusing police officer |url=https://odishatv.in/news/odisha/sambalpur-mla-jaynarayan-mishra-accused-of-abusing-police-officer-259578 |work=O TV}} in Sambalpur and threatening to set a police station on fire,{{Cite news |title=Odisha MLA Jayanarayan Mishra abuses IIC, threatens to set police station on fire |url=https://sambadenglish.com/latest-news/odisha-mla-jayanarayan-mishra-abuses-iic-threatens-to-set-police-station-on-fire-8928266 |work=Sambad English}} which attracted media attention and criticism.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mishra, Jayanarayan}}
Category:Odisha MLAs 2000–2004
Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Odisha
Category:People from Sambalpur district
Category:Odisha MLAs 2004–2009
Category:Odisha MLAs 2009–2014
Category:Odisha MLAs 2019–2024