Keeping his flock together has been the biggest challenge for BJD supremo and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik who is pushing 80 with age certainly not on his side. His health, too, remains a matter of concern for his party men.
Ever since Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lost the 2024 elections, paving the way for the formation of the maiden BJP government in the state, there has been intense speculation about the future of the party. Though BJD happens to be the most successful regional party in the history of the state, there is no dearth of critics who have been predicting its doom.
Many political analysts appear to be taking an extremely pessimistic view of BJD’s future because of some significant developments within the party since its electoral loss to the BJP last year. During the last 18 months since the 2024 election results were announced with BJP emerging as the winner and forming a government on its own for the first time three senior BJD leaders have left the party. While two of them were sitting Rajya Sabha members, one was a former member. All of them promptly joined BJP which sent two of them to the Upper House again on its ticket while the third one, it can be safely presumed, is hopeful of landing a RS ticket.
Keeping his flock together has been the biggest challenge for BJD supremo and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik who is pushing 80 with age certainly not on his side. His health, too, remains a matter of concern for his party men and rival BJP keeps making pointed references to his health from time to time as if to remind the people of the state that the leader is no more in a position to give his best to the state.
Patnaik, however, remains both resilient and tenacious and keenly aware of the challenges facing him. If his recent address to the party men on the occasion of his party’s 29th Foundation Day is any indication he would like to go down fighting instead of throwing in the towel meekly. Speaking to the cadres the former chief minister hit out at those spreading misinformation about the party. “In a democracy, there are victories and defeats. Now, some people and some parties are spreading misinformation about us. Rumours are being spread that the BJD will break apart.”
“I want to make it clear that the BJD is not about one or two leaders. It is a people’s movement, deeply connected to Odia aspirations and pride. The BJD exists and will continue to be the voice of the people of Odisha for the next hundred years,” he said.
Patnaik said, “The BJD is a successful regional party of the country. Since 1997, we have been serving the people of Odisha by following the ideals of Biju Babu (legendary Biju Patnaik).”
“The period from 2000 to 2024 was the golden era in Odisha’s development history. We fought poverty, starvation, infant mortality, and natural calamities and we succeeded. We gave Odisha a new identity. We empowered women, increased farmers’ incomes, provided free healthcare through schemes like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojna, strengthened the State’s economy, attracted investment to the State, and generated employment for the youth,” said Mr. Patnaik.
Taking a dig at Bharatiya Janata Party Government, he said, “at present, a so-called double-engine government is running in Odisha. But where is the development? Farmers are not getting fertilisers. Mandis are not opening. Mission Shakti women are being harassed. The youth are disheartened. In the last 18 months of the double-engine government, 18 question papers have been leaked.”
“It does not feel like there is a functioning government in the State. It is better not to even speak about law and order. Atrocities against women are increasing, and even minor girls are not safe,” said Patnaik who is now the leader of opposition.
This was Patnaik’s reply to critics who have been predicting doom for the BJD saying that it will collapse like a “house of cards”. But Patnaik knows that politics is all about patience. “Having patience is very important in politics. I have deep faith in the hard work and commitment of lakhs of our party workers. Therefore, everyone should work towards converting today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities to build a strong Odisha,” the former chief minister said. He is right and if the BJD can actually remain united and work on the ideology of Biju Patnaik and serve the people of Odisha with the motto of three S like “Seva (service), Swabhiman (self-esteem) and Sangram (struggle)” there is every chance of the party bouncing back. But Patnaik and his lieutenants must remember that they are up against a party which is not only organisationally strong but also has some of the best political strategists in the country among its ranks.
