Bhubaneswar: The political climate in Odisha has turned volatile as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) grapples with a growing fear of cross-voting ahead of the 5 March Rajya Sabha nomination deadline. The BJD Supremo has issued a high-priority summons to all party legislators, mandating their presence in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. This directive is seen as an emergency measure to consolidate the rank and file against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s aggressive sixteen-set nomination gambit.
The anxiety within the BJD camp has intensified following reports of internal dissent over the selection of candidates. While the party has officially named Shri Santrupt Misra and Dr. Datteswar Hota—the latter being a common candidate supported by the Congress—certain factions within the party have expressed open dissatisfaction. Former MLA Shri Prabhat Biswal’s reported confrontation with the leadership at Naveen Niwas has further fueled speculation that some disgruntled MLAs might be susceptible to the BJP’s outreach.
The BJP’s move to collect sixteen sets of nomination papers is being interpreted as a clear signal that the ruling party is prepared to force a contest for the fourth seat, even without the immediate numerical advantage. By creating a scenario where every vote counts, the BJP has successfully placed the BJD on the defensive. The fear of a repeat of past cross-voting episodes has prompted the BJD leadership to consider issuing a formal whip to ensure total compliance.
With the Congress party also facing its own internal rifts—marked by the absence of two MLAs from a recent legislative meeting—the BJD supremo is taking no chances. The mandatory gathering on 5 March is intended to serve as a show of strength and a final check on loyalty before the papers are filed. As the deadline looms, the focus remains on whether the BJD-Congress alliance can hold its ground or if the BJP’s tactical pressure will lead to a significant political upset.