After the Nuapada by-election setback, discussions have intensified within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) about who will take over the party’s leadership.
The party’s foundation day falls on December 26, and speculation is rife that BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik might announce his successor on that occasion.
Names being floated include Sujata Rout Kartikeyan, wife of retired IAS officer VK Pandian, and Arun Patnaik, Naveen’s nephew. Some BJD leaders have reportedly proposed one of them as the heir apparent. However, the party has not issued any official clarification on this matter.
Senior BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra has not denied the succession discussions, stating that the announcement will be made by the party president when the time comes.
According to sources, the Nuapada by-election results have stunned party leaders. Despite Naveen campaigning twice, the BJD slipped to third place. Senior leaders are questioning why Naveen was roped in for campaigning despite his health concerns. With the party’s prestige at stake in Nuapada, the strategies of top leaders failed to deliver. The BJD even polled fewer votes than the Congress.
As a result, internal brainstorming has begun to revamp the organisation and take it forward in a new form. With the BJD now in the opposition, a long battle lies ahead. In this context, many party leaders privately opine that Naveen should hand over the party’s management to someone else while continuing to provide guidance.
On the succession buzz, senior vice-president Mishra said, “If such a decision is to be made, it will be known when the president announces it. If there’s any formal decision in the party or directive from the president, everyone will know. But I have nothing to say about the ongoing discussions before that.”
Mishra’s refusal to outright deny the succession talk has only fueled further speculation. Whether these discussions on BJD’s leadership will materialise remains to be seen.
