Bhubaneswar: When Man Mohan Samal, BJP State President made a statement on Biju Janata Dal (BJD) support for Bharatiya Janata Party, eye brows were raised in the political circle of Odisha.
Shri Samal recently asked: “Why is the BJD supporting the BJP? Ask them why they support the saffron party.”
This is considered something unusual as BJD has all along supported BJP led NDA Government in Center without any attachment to it.
And Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciates Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in each and every occasion for his genuineness and reciprocates the same with this Regional Satrap, who continues to rule the State since 2000.
Given BJD’s unconditional support for BJP led NDA Government other regional parties and Non BJP National Parties ignored BJD Big Boss Naveen Patnaik, when they met at Patna to prepare for a grand move to dislodge BJP in 2024. So BJD turns ‘Loner’
Odisha’s five-time Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seems to be a loner. Though initially he was reluctant to enter into politics after the demise of his legendary father Biju Patnaik in 1997, he has successfully completed 23 years as the Chief Minister and is still continuing. There should be no doubt that he is the tallest of all leaders in the state and loved by 4.5 crore people of Odisha.
However, Odisha’s bachelor Chief Minister is happy to be contained within the state. Time and again Naveen has clarified that he was highly satisfied in Odisha and does not have any ambition to become Prime Minister or any other important posts in the national level. He is happy with the Chief Minister’s position and interested in making it six times.
What is different between the other leaders and Naveen is that the Odisha Chief Minister is highly satisfied over his position and does not dream of becoming Prime Minister of India. He loves his work and position where he has been.
This attitude of Naveen has probably made him a loner in Indian politics. He stands isolated and does not belong to any group or alliance after he came out of the NDA in 2009. Naveen knows it pretty well that he is the undisputed leader in the state and he will continue to become Chief Minister. After dropping the BJP like a hot potato in 2009, Naveen claims to maintain an equal distance from both the BJP led NDA and the Congress led UPA. Naveen is free and not attached to any group or alliance though critics often dup him and his party as a “Team-B” of BJP at the national level.
Though remained away from the NDA, Naveen has time and again supported the BJP on issues and thus become a target of other non-BJP parties. He has not only kept the NDA and UPA away, but also maintained a safe distance from the third group, which met at Patna in Bihar recently. It is another matter that Naveen’s BJD was not invited to attend the Patna congregation.
Earlier, he has given sufficient indication to the visiting leaders like Chief Ministers of Bihar Nitish Kumar and West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee that he will not be part of any group or alliance. Naveen also maintains that his party is dedicated to the people of Odisha. Therefore, the BJD will take any decision which may benefit the 4.5 crore people of the state.
Keeping the party away from any group and at the same time supporting BJP issues has created a difficult situation for Naveen. The Congress has taken the BJD’s stand differently and accused the regional party of being hand in gloves with the saffron party at the centre even as they fight against each other in Odisha. “The BJD will support the BJP as long as the saffron rules the country. The reason is best known to the people of Odisha,” Said OPCC Media Cell Chief Ganeswar Behera.
People of Odisha support Naveen’s policy of equal distance from the BJP and Congress. But, what irks the people is that BJD’s issue based support to BJP. “If you take a decision not to be part of the NDA or the UPA, it is good. But, giving issue based support to BJP itself contradicts the policy,” said a senior political analyst adding that this deviation has been misunderstood by the people and they want a clear policy and not a diluted one. There is no bar on the BJD Supremo to become part of NDA, UPA or the Third Group. If BJD wants to support the BJP, it should not take shelter of any issue. As a political party, the BJD has full authority to take a decision to support or oppose any party or policy.
Interestingly adding to the insult given by non-BJP parties, the saffron party’s Odisha President Manmohan After Shri Samal’s statement that it appears that the BJD has been supporting on its own without being requested by the BJP. Therefore, why do the BJD support the BJP’s issues?
It is high time that the BJD supremo must clarify why the BJD supports the BJP. Is it helping the 4.5 crore people of Odisha? If it is, it should be transparent. The BJD though remained in coalition with BJP for nine years from 2000 to 2009 and supported BJP since 2014 and even sent a BJP candidate to Rajya sabha, has failed to gain. The state’s long standing demand of a special category status has been rejected by the Central government led by BJP. This apart, the quantum of central funding to the state is also declining by the day. What benefit actually it gets by supporting BJP? Naveen must make the people of Odisha understand.
By keeping itself away from all groups, BJD now stands isolated in the national politics though Naveen has personal friends in all parties. Naveen’s close friends like Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee and others want him to join them. But, the regional party Chief at the same time does not want to annoy the BJP which has been ruling the country since 2024. Why does BJD provide unconditional support to the BJP like a true friend?, asked a BJD veteran requesting not to be named. Time has come; Naveen must reply to the question raised by Manmohan Samal. He should clarify why the BJD provides support to the BJP without being requested.
There is no problem in the Naveen’s “Ekla Chalo” policy. He has proved that the BJD alone is more than sufficient in Odisha. Since coming out of NDA in 2009, BJD has recorded spectacular success in subsequent elections. Naveen’s clean image has been further brightened. He has shown the strength and confidence of BJD. But at the state time, providing uncalled for support to BJP must stop.