Bhubaneswar: When BJD Veteran A U Singh Deo met BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik, he strongly felt that his child hood friend has changed his strategy.
Shir Singh Deo directly went to Naveen Niwas and stayed there for more than two hours. Both the friends had long chat over various issues.
However Shri Singhdeo was tightlipped about the conversation and he quipped “It was a private meeting”.
Not only Shri Singh Deo, but another BJD Veteran Debi Prasad Mishra today had a quiet meeting with BJD Supremo and the former Minister was not inclined to divulge the topic.
One thing was clear that BJD Supremo has changed his strategy after the political debacle on 2024 Poll.
The changes are observed after the party chief held closed door meetings with elected and defeated BJD MLA and MP candidates. Besides the defeated ministers and MLAs, BJD’s organisation secretary Pranab Prakash Das participated in the meeting.
Shri Patnaik, who was confined within his residence Naveen Niwas during the last three years till election, was seen meeting his party leaders, people, supporters and public without any barrier.
Earlier, the party leaders are seen personally meeting with Naveen, taking selfies and sharing their thoughts with the BJD President.
Senior leader Prafulla Samal, who lost to BJP’s Sitansu Sekhar Mohapatra in Bhadrak, said the BJD will be strengthened further under the leadership of Patnaik, who will personally look into the party organisation in every district.
In the Assembly elections, the BJD could win 51 seats as the BJP bagged 78 seats and the Congress 14 in the 147-member Assembly. With this election, the 24-year rule of Naveen Patnaik-led BJD in the state came to an end.
The regional party witnessed a major dent in the popularity of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik who himself faced defeat in Kantabanji MLA seat.
The 77-year-old Shri Patnaik won from his home turf the Hinjili constituency in Ganjam district with a narrow margin.
Shri Patnaik had never tasted defeat since he joined politics in 1997 by winning the by-election from Aska Lok Sabha constituency after the death of his father and former CM, Biju Patnaik.
There is also a discussion going on within BJD circles V K Pandian, who was projected as second top leader in the BJD after Naveen will be sidelined as people have rejected his leadership.
Now strategy and Road Map is being chalked out to strengthen the Regional Party in a bigger way as there is lot of affection for Naveen Patnaik after the debacle across the state.