[3] Recurrent droughts, inadequate irrigation and uneven land distribution have made Kosal a "hunger belt" in Odisha since Independence.
As reported in "The Indian Express" the Odisha PCC president Hemananda Biswal had strongly opposed the demand for a separate state.
Addressing the media, he told in Bhubaneswar that, "the Congress party is committed to the establishment of the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) and the Bill in this connection is pending before the legislature".
[13] Balgopal Mishra reacted to it saying "there is a growing demand for a separate state; it was regrettable that the newly elected MP and some legislators of Bolangir district had failed to see the writing on the wall".
[14] Later, the "Kosal Rayej Kriyanusthan Committee", which fought Odisha State Assembly & Lok Sabha Election for the cause, was formed.
Advani told reporters in Balangir that India could consider the demand for a separate Kosal state only if the Odisha Assembly passed a resolution in this regard, claiming "a consensus is needed in this matter".
[23][24] Frequently, bandhs (strikes or acts of civil disobedience) are observed in parts of Western Odisha demanding a separate state.
[22][25][26] On 23 December 2009, thousands of members of the Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) staged a demonstration near the Odisha assembly building.
According to The Statesman, the protest dharna (peaceful sit-in) was led by the KKD's president Pramod Kumar Misra; other leaders of the party addressed the protestors, exhorting them to launch a mass movement for separate statehood.
"[27][28][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] On 27 December 2009, The Pioneer published an article saying senior BJD leader and Minister Ananga Udaya Singh Deo was opposed to the creation of a separate state.
[38][39] Addressing the BJD foundation day in Bhubaneswar, Singh Deo said the demand for a separate state gained momentum because the past Congress governments had neglected their interests.
[40] After this the members of All Kosal Students' union, led by convener Dolamani Pradhan, held a demonstration before the Collectorate in Balangir town protesting against the anti-Kosal remark by AU Singh Deo, WODC's chairman Prof. Niranjan Panda and Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik and later burning their effigies.
[42] Hundreds of activists blocked tracks at many places in Western Odisha, including at Balangir, Bargarh, Boinda, Rourkela and Kesinga.
[43] It was also reported that more than 100 protesters courted arrest at Balangir town and the party leader Pramod Mishra said they will hold more agitations in the coming days.
Normal life in Sambalpur was paralysed as rail and road communications, shops and offices remained closed for the day.
[48] The one-day shutdown evoked large response; shops, businesses and educational institutions remained closed while people took to rallies and staged demonstrations at many places.
The Kosal coordination committee organized a motor cycle rally from Samaleswari temple of Bargarh town on 24 August 2014 to create awareness among locals regarding the campaign and ordered the bandh.
[50] The Balangir wing of Koshal State Coordination Committee (KSCC) took out a motorcycle rally in the town on Monday to alert the people to participate in the bandh.
Gopalji Panigrahi of Balangir Action Committee said the fight for a state will continue until the demand is fulfilled by the Government of India.
The only solution to the problems like regional imbalance, discrimination in education, employment, industrialisation and development is formation of a separate State".
The president of KKD Pramod Mishra said the people had gathered to protest against their continuous exploitation by the successive Governments at Bhubaneswar.
[citation needed] The KSCC, composed of representatives of organisations in 10 districts, has called a 12-hour bandh in Western Odisha on 26 August 2016.
Thanks to his dedication and organizational skills, the shutdown was observed widely across the Koshal region, making it a significant event in the movement's history.
During this yatra, Pritam Thakur met with fellow activist Akash Panda, an encounter that added new momentum to the movement, further strengthening its foundation and outreach.