The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), one of Odisha’s strongest political parties, is currently facing internal unrest after a controversial decision involving the Waqf Bill. The party’s unexpected stance on the bill has created confusion and stirred up criticism — not only from outsiders but also from within the party itself.
Closed-Door Meeting Raises Eyebrows
According to reports, a group of senior BJD leaders and youth wing members recently held a private meeting at a hotel in Patia, Bhubaneswar, to talk about the ongoing internal conflict. The key attendees included prominent party leaders like Shashi Bhusan Behera, Ashok Panda, and Chandra Sarathi Behera.
What’s interesting is that this meeting happened outside the official party platform, indicating that something serious is going on. Prior discussions held at Naveen Niwas (residence of party chief Naveen Patnaik) apparently failed to resolve the core issues, which are now under sharp political scrutiny.
This has led to rising speculation in political circles that the BJD may be heading towards a major internal shake-up— or even a split.
What’s the Conflict About?
The crux of the issue seems to revolve around VK Pandian, the former 5T (Transformational Initiatives) chairman and close aide of Naveen Patnaik. He recently announced his retirement from active politics, but his influence still appears to be a point of contention.
Some party members are seen as loyal to Pandian, while others seem to oppose his growing role in the party’s recent decisions — especially the Waqf Bill vote.
As of now, Naveen Patnaik has not made any public statement on the issue, which has only added fuel to the fire. His silence is being viewed as mysterious and is causing more unrest within the party ranks.
Voices Within the Party
Senior leader Shashi Bhusan Behera tried to downplay the tension, saying:
“Some like-minded leaders discussed party issues. Naveen is our undisputed leader, and we stand with him. No external force can weaken him.”
Another BJD leader, Nrusingha Sahu, added that the party president was aware of the discussions that took place.
However, things took a sharp turn when Debashish Samantaray, a senior BJD leader, posted a critical message on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He expressed his frustration with newcomers in the party, accusing them of not understanding the legacy of Biju Patnaik (Naveen’s father and party founder) or the values of the BJD.
He even went so far as to suggest that the BJD’s loss in the 2024 elections was tied to a failure in upholding ‘Odia Asmita’ (Odisha’s identity and pride).
Denials of a Split – Is It Just a Disagreement or Something Bigger?
Despite all this, BJD leader Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak dismissed the idea of a split, saying:
“Nobody has questioned Naveen Patnaik’s leadership. Debashish Samantaray respects Naveen Babu. We are all united and disciplined. We follow whatever Naveen Babu decides.”
What Could Happen Next?
Right now, BJD seems to be at a crossroads. There are visible signs of internal tension, and the lack of clarity from Naveen Patnaik is making things worse. If the differences continue to grow — especially over VK Pandian’s role and influence — the party may soon face a bigger crisis.
Whether this is just a temporary disagreement or the start of a full-blown party split remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: all is not well inside the BJD.
