Odisha: BJD faces internal turmoil over Rajya Sabha vote on Waqf Bill

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is facing unprecedented internal discord following a surprising reversal on the party’s stance regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Senior leaders within the party are struggling to reconcile the sudden shift, which has exposed cracks within the regional powerhouse.

The BJD had initially declared its opposition to the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, where it holds seven seats. On April 1, two of its most prominent members—Dr. Sasmit Patra and Muzibulla Khan (Muna Khan)—publicly announced that they would oppose the legislation, citing party directives issued by Patnaik. However, in a dramatic turn of events on Thursday night, Dr. Patra, the BJD’s leader in the Upper House, defied the earlier stance and voted in favor of the Bill, asserting that the party supremo had granted lawmakers the liberty to vote according to their conscience.

The volte-face has triggered a storm within the party. Several senior leaders, including Prasanna Acharya and Sashi Bhusan Behera, convened at the BJD headquarters in Bhubaneswar to discuss the fallout. Concerns have mounted over the implications of Dr Patra’s unexpected move, with party insiders questioning whether this deviation was a mere act of individual discretion or a deeper realignment of the party’s strategy.

“Before every parliamentary session, our party president Naveen Patnaik provides clear instructions on critical bills, ensuring that our stance aligns with Odisha’s interests. This time, we were unequivocally instructed to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. It is deeply concerning how Dr. Sasmit Patra disregarded this directive and voted in favor of the Bill. We intend to seek a formal clarification from Naveen Patnaik on this matter,” said a senior BJD leader on the condition of anonymity.

The dramatic shift has emboldened the opposition, with the Congress swiftly seizing upon the controversy to level serious allegations against the BJD. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das accused Patnaik and his close aide, former bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian, of secretly colluding with the BJP leadership in Delhi.

“Naveen Patnaik and his blue-eyed boy, VK Pandian, had a clandestine meeting with BJP leaders in Delhi. This is not about individual conscience—it is about political expediency. The BJD has been entangled in multiple scandals, including massive mining and chit fund scams. To evade legal scrutiny, the party is now extending tacit support to the BJP-led Central government,” Das alleged.

Das further asserted that despite BJD’s strategic posturing, the Congress remained the real opposition force in the state. “The BJP and BJD have always shared a cordial relationship behind the scenes. It is the Congress that has consistently fought for the rights of the people of Odisha, and we will continue to do so,” he added.

The BJD, which currently serves as the principal opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, holds 51 seats in the 147-member House, while the Congress occupies 14. The ruling BJP maintains a majority with 78 legislators. This latest internal rift within the BJD has raised speculation about its long-term political trajectory, particularly with the upcoming state and general elections looming on the horizon.

Observers suggest that the episode could mark a significant turning point for the BJD, potentially signaling a deeper realignment with the BJP or an internal power struggle within the party ranks. For now, all eyes remain on Naveen Patnaik’s response and the party’s next course of action as it navigates this political turbulence.