India, March 9 -- Senior BJP leader and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra has sparked a fresh controversy by describing the integration of the Kosal region with Odisha as a "historic blunder." His remark has drawn sharp criticism from Opposition parties Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress.

BJD leader Rohit Pujari slammed Mishra, questioning why he never raised the issue during his past tenure as a minister and opposition leader. "Jayanarayan Mishra has been elected as an MLA five times. From 2000 to 2009, he was the deputy chief whip and also a minister, but he never spoke about this issue then. As Leader of Opposition, he never brought up this matter in the Assembly," Pujari said.

He also pointed out that Mishra had stood for the 'B...