The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Odisha government has stirred a political storm by deciding to repaint all government school buildings in an ‘Orange Tan-N’ shade, replacing the green hue associated with the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime. The Odisha State Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) issued a directive to district collectors, mandating the new color scheme for construction, repairs, and renovations, superseding prior guidelines. The move, approved recently, has ignited accusations of ‘saffronisation’ from the opposition BJD.

Senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya condemned the decision as “sheer politics,” questioning its purpose. “Can changing colors overhaul education or energize students? This is a waste of crores from the state’s coffers to push BJP’s agenda into young minds,” he argued. The BJD claims the orange shade aligns with the BJP’s saffron symbolism, accusing the ruling party of erasing their legacy after 24 years in power until June 2024, when school buildings and uniforms mirrored their green-and-white party colors.

School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond countered these claims, asserting that the BJD had originally politicized education by adopting their party colors. “We’re restoring an appealing look. Orange will create a vibrant environment for schools,” Gond said. The BJP points to last October’s uniform redesign—shifting from BJD’s green-and-white to light brown, chocolate, and clay-baked yellow for classes 9 and 10—as part of their effort to refresh educational aesthetics.

The debate reflects deeper political tensions in Odisha, with the BJP, under Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, distancing itself from BJD’s imprint since taking office. Critics argue the funds could address pressing educational needs, like infrastructure or teacher shortages, rather than symbolic changes. As the orange makeover unfolds, it underscores how even colors can become battlegrounds in India’s polarized political landscape.