Bhubaneswar: Amidst internal discord within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over its shifting stance on the Waqf Bill, senior leader and eight-time MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain has issued a strong call to the party leadership to reaffirm its commitment to social justice and secularism.
He has also warned against attempts by certain individuals to “hijack the party,” potentially eroding its founding principles.
In a letter addressed to BJD President and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Shri Swain expressed deep concern over the “recent discontent among party workers” stemming from the Waqf Bill controversy. He emphasized the need for the party to take a “clear stand on secularism” and restore the confidence of its cadre.
“People of Odisha are looking at us for principled leadership,” Shri Swain wrote, urging Shri Patnaik to guide the BJD back to its ideological roots. He stressed that the party’s foundation, laid by Biju Patnaik, was rooted in social justice, with secularism and regional pride as its integral components.
Shri Swain argued that the BJD must reaffirm its commitment to these core principles to resonate with the masses. He highlighted the “deep-rooted structural neglect” faced by marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, and women, despite constituting 94% of Odisha’s population. He particularly pointed out the “glaring void” in the social justice framework, citing the lack of reservation for OBCs in education, despite them comprising 54% of the population.
In his letter, Shri Swain also cautioned against allowing “a few individuals [to] hijack the party, distort the social fabric and deepen regional imbalance.” He called for equitable representation of SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and women within the party organization.
To strengthen the party and address the concerns raised, Shri Swain proposed five key suggestions:
- Conduct a comprehensive caste census.
- Enforce the Supreme Court’s mining taxation orders and recover dues.
- Implement the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA).
- Push for Special Category status for Odisha.
- Ensure equitable representation of marginalized communities within the party.
Responding to Shri Swain’s letter, Coordination Committee Chairman of BJD, Debi Prasad Mishra stated that the party has consistently emphasized the empowerment of marginalized sections.
When questioned about Shri Swain’s reference to an attempt to “hijack” the party, Shri Mishra said, “He (Swain) is a senior leader and can clarify who he is referring to. There is no point to become impatient. The party’s organisational poll process is going on. Let us wait the process to be completed.”
Shri Swain’s intervention comes at a critical juncture for the BJD, following its recent electoral defeat after a 24-year reign. His calls for ideological clarity and inclusive representation underscore the challenges the party faces in navigating its future and maintaining its relevance in the changing political landscape of Odisha.