Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous launched a sharp attack on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), accusing it of crumbling under pressure and striking a secret understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to escape consequences of alleged corruption during its 24-year rule in Odisha.
Speaking amid the ongoing political storm over the Waqf Amendment Bill, Firdous alleged that the BJD’s support for the BJP stems from fear of action in multiple scams that occurred under its watch.
“BJD has already crumbled. They are supporting the BJP out of fear because they looted Odisha during their 24-year rule. They’ve made a deal to back the BJP so that their leaders aren’t arrested for the scams, frauds, and corruption cases piling up against them,” the Congress MLA alleged.
Her statement comes at a time when BJD is facing internal dissent and public scrutiny over its stand on the Waqf Bill. The party’s silence and perceived alignment with the BJP on the issue have drawn criticism from opposition parties, especially the Congress.
Firdous, one of the youngest legislators in the Odisha Assembly and known for her outspoken stance, called the alleged BJD-BJP nexus a “shameful compromise” at the cost of Odisha’s people and secular values.
The BJD, which once prided itself on maintaining an equal distance from national parties, is now being accused by its critics of abandoning its independent stance in return for political safety.
As the controversy over the Waqf Amendment Bill deepens, political temperatures in Odisha continue to rise, with more leaders across party lines stepping forward to question the shifting alliances and hidden agendas.
