Bhubaneswar, Aug. 20 -- BJP MLA from Balasore Manas Kumar Dutta has welcomed the Election Commission's decision to begin the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha, saying the exercise had been a "long-standing demand of the common people."

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Dutta said, "The start of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in Odisha has been a long-standing demand of the common people. It will be initiated by the Election Commission in September. The Election Commission is working in the interest of the country."

Targeting the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for opposing the exercise, Dutta called their stance a "feudal mindset."

"Congress and BJD are displaying a feudal mindset. They think that if they...