Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Odisha have voiced their discontent with the party’s central leadership over the possibility of forming an alliance with their principal rival, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Sources say that they have conveyed their “strong” reservations against this move to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda.
The discontent among BJP leaders stems from concerns raised by party workers, who feel frustrated and angry at the prospect of aligning with the BJD. They argue that they have spent years highlighting the alleged misgovernance of the BJD and engaging in confrontations with its workers and leaders on the ground. This potential alliance poses a credibility challenge for BJP leaders as they question how they can face the electorate after opposing the BJD for so long.
The BJP and the BJD had previously been in an alliance for over a decade until Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik withdrew from it ahead of the 2009 election. The split was attributed to communal riots following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxmanananda Saraswati, which left over three dozen people dead. Patnaik’s decision to part ways with the BJP was also seen as a strategic move to distance himself from the party instrumental in the formation of the BJD in 1997.
Despite emerging as the principal challenger to the BJD in recent elections, with the BJP securing significant seats in both Lok Sabha and assembly polls, there appears to be a shift in the BJP’s stance. This change was evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent speeches in Odisha, where he refrained from criticizing the Naveen Patnaik government and instead focused on targeting the Congress.
The potential alliance with the BJD has left BJP cadre confused and demotivated, with many questioning the party’s strategy in the state. While BJP state president Manmohan Samal stated that the state leadership is not aware of any discussions regarding an alliance with the BJD, another senior party functionary emphasized the existence of significant anti-incumbency against the Naveen Patnaik government.
The growing bonhomie between the BJP and the BJD was also highlighted when the latter supported Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha for the second consecutive time.
As speculations about a potential alliance persist, BJP leaders in Odisha continue to prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections, awaiting clarity from the central leadership on the party’s strategic direction in the state.