Bhubaneswar: Senior leaders within the party are struggling to reconcile the sudden shift, which has exposed cracks within the regional party. Senior leaders of the BJD held an internal meeting here at the party office here to discuss the issue.
Speaking to media persons, Prasanna Acharya said, “Among other issues, we also discussed it (the BJD’s change of stand). We do not know under what circumstances, the party changed its stand. As we know, the BJD Parliamentary Party meeting held under the chairmanship of Patnaik had earlier decided to oppose the Waqf Bill. We will discuss the issue with the BJD Supremo.”
Similarly, another senior BJD leader Badri Narayn Patra admitted that the party’s last moment stand had created an awkward situation for the party.
“Naveen Patnaik personally instructed Munna Khan twice – once during a recent Iftar party and again via phone – to vote against the Bill. The confusing situation is concerning. There could be some pressure or some deal,” the senior MLA and former minister told the media.
Former Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera said everyone is confused and hearing a lot of things on the party’s stand on the Bill.
Later, the senior party leaders visited Naveen Niwas in the evening to clear their confusion. After the meeting, Acharya said the party continues to maintain equidistance and secularism.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress strongly criticised the BJD and accused it of going against its promise to the Muslim community in the state by voting in favour of the Bill.
OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said, “The BJD was functioning on the ideology of late Biju Patnaik and Naveen Babu also claimed to be secular. Now they have completely surrendered before the BJP. In the process, they (BJD) have saffronised themselves. I will not be surprised if the BJD merges with the BJP following the regional party’s change of ideology.”
BJP leader and MLA Babu Singh said the BJD leaders are not maintaining the discipline as the party is now running without leadership. The party has already lost the faith of the people, and now the party leaders and cadres are losing hope in the party, he said.