Resignations And Dissent Cast A Shadow On BJD’s Future

All eyes are on BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik as to how he will manage serious internal party rumblings and keep the party united? This is because a few of the top leaders have started deserting the party. First salvo was fired following BJD’s shocking performance in 2024 elections – Lok Sabha and Assembly — wherein two Rajya Sabha MPs Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar resigned from the party. But their exit did not create ripples compared to the recent resignation of two BJD senior leaders N Bhaskar Rao and Lal Bihari Himrika who are known to have strong grassroot connections. What raised the eyebrows in political circles is that BJD’s ex-mines minister and four times MLA Prafulla Mallik’s resignation threats over dissatisfaction with BJD leadership.  The party high command suspended him for anti-party activities and labelled him an opportunistic politician. According to Mallik, BJD has failed to function effectively as the main opposition party in the state. The general feeling is Patnaik cannot take on the might of PM Modi because of his health issue and nip the rumblings within the party. The future of BJD seems uncertain with no clear leadership to lead the party. It is learnt that splinter group is now considering changing BJD’s party name and springing a new regional political outfit. Political observers commenting on this situation say “political Tsunami” is building up in Odisha and it’s music to the ears for the BJP.