A fresh wave of unrest has erupted within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as several party leaders have expressed anger over the party’s abrupt change of stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill, hinting at growing resentment against the continuing influence of V K Pandian, former advisor to party chief Naveen Patnaik. The controversy has not only reignited questions over the party’s internal democracy but has also triggered a rare public dissent from senior leaders, exposing a widening rift in Odisha’s once-unified political force.
The current crisis finds echoes of a similar rebellion faced by Patnaik in 2002, when six of the ten BJD Lok Sabha MPs revolted against his leadership style and attempted to split the parliamentary party. Although Patnaik, then new to politics, managed to contain that crisis and went on to lead the party to multiple electoral victories, the present discord seems more complex, with internal dissatisfaction now directly tied to his long-time aide Pandian’s influence.
Waqf Bill Reversal Triggers Backlash
The latest flashpoint came last week when the BJD, despite vocally opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, made a last-minute change in its parliamentary stance by not issuing a whip to its Rajya Sabha MPs. Of the seven MPs in the Upper House, three voted in favour of the Bill, three against it, while one abstained. The reversal has sparked sharp criticism from within the party, with many alleging a covert deal with the BJP and calling it a betrayal of the party’s secular image.
Senior leader Pratap Jena demanded action against BJD’s Rajya Sabha floor leader Sasmit Patra, who announced the party’s altered stance via a social media post. Prominent MP Muzibulla Khan, who voted against the Bill, said Patnaik was likely unaware of the last-minute change and questioned the silence of Patra.
Pandian at the Centre of Internal Dissent
Several leaders have publicly held V K Pandian responsible for what they call a “volte-face” on the Bill, accusing him of continued interference in party affairs despite announcing his retirement from active politics after the 2024 electoral defeat. A Muslim delegation led by Khan met Patnaik at his residence, raising slogans like “Pandian hatao, BJD bachao,” underlining the depth of dissatisfaction.
While four BJD MPs came out in Pandian’s support, others, particularly those sidelined post-2019, accused him of being a root cause of the party’s downfall. Formerly silenced voices are now speaking up, recalling how earlier critics of Pandian, including Baijayant Panda and Damodar Rout, were removed or isolated.
