Naveen Patnaik Meets Kalikesh Singh Deo, Triggers Speculation On BJD Organisational Reshuffle
The meeting comes at a time when the BJD is facing internal challenges following its defeat in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections.
Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday held discussions with Bolangir MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo at his residence, triggering political speculation about a possible organisational reshuffle in the party.
The meeting comes at a time when the BJD is facing internal challenges following its defeat in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections. The party also suffered a setback in the Nuapada Assembly by-election, while several leaders have either distanced themselves from party activities or shifted allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to political observers, Patnaik is exploring ways to stabilise the party and restore organisational discipline. Over the past few weeks, senior leaders have publicly expressed divergent views, indicating a lack of cohesion within the party ranks.
Earlier, Patnaik had also met his longtime associate and BJD founding member Ananga Uday Singh Deo, who is Kalikesh Singh Deo’s father. Though details of the discussions were not disclosed, the back-to-back meetings have fuelled speculation about a renewed role for leaders associated with the party’s early leadership.
Sources said the BJD leadership may consider assigning Kalikesh Singh Deo a significant organisational role, possibly as a state-level office-bearer, to help manage internal equations within the party. Observers believe such a move could also help the party regain its foothold in western Odisha, where Ananga Uday Singh Deo continues to enjoy influence.
Kalikesh Singh Deo, however, has largely confined his political activities to Bolangir district and has not previously held major organisational responsibilities at the state level. Any formal decision on his role is yet to be announced by the party.
The developments have also been viewed in the context of recent disciplinary action taken against Aravind Mahapatra, son of another BJD founding member Bijay Mohapatra. The decision had drawn criticism from certain sections, adding to the leadership’s current challenges.
Political analysts say Patnaik is attempting to strike a balance between organisational control and regional representation as the party seeks to arrest further erosion of its support base. Whether the latest outreach results in concrete changes within the BJD leadership structure is expected to become clear in the coming days.
