The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is grappling with internal discord following its support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, during a late-night vote in the Rajya Sabha.
Despite earlier decisions to oppose the bill, the party’s stance shifted unexpectedly, leading to a split among its members.
Party president Naveen Patnaik had initially directed BJD MPs to oppose the bill, a decision reaffirmed during parliamentary meetings. However, the sudden change in position has sparked questions and concerns within the party. Out of seven MPs, three voted in favor of the bill, two opposed it, and two abstained, highlighting the growing divide.
Senior leaders, including Prasanna Acharya and Ashok Panda, have expressed dissatisfaction with the shift, calling for clarity on the reasons behind the altered decision. The party’s advisory council convened to discuss the matter, with plans to meet Naveen Patnaik for further deliberations.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who view the internal conflict as a sign of weakening unity within the BJD. As the debate continues, the party faces mounting pressure to address the discord and restore cohesion.
President Naveen Patnaik had previously determined in a parliamentary party meeting that the BJD would oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament. Earlier, when minority representatives met with him, the BJD reiterated that it would oppose the Waqf Bill. Accordingly, this decision was first announced in the Rajya Sabha by the parliamentary party leader, Sasmit Patra. However, he later reversed this position.
On Wednesday, Sasmit Patra had stated that the BJD would oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament. Party MP Munna Khan also communicated the party’s decision during the discussion of the bill. Unexpectedly, Dr. Patra changed his stance, tweeting that the Biju Janata Dal did not issue a whip, allowing party MPs to vote according to their conscience. This led to a controversy, especially since he himself voted in favor of the bill.
As a result, the party has now completely split. Of the 7 MPs, two voted against the bill, two abstained, and three voted in favor. Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantray mentioned that he did not support this controversial decision of the party. Munna Khan openly opposed the bill and cast his vote against it. The question remains: why did this reversal occur, and who changed the decision after the instructions from the party president? An explosive situation has emerged within the party.
On Friday morning, senior leaders of the party convened at Shankha Bhawan to discuss concerns regarding a recent controversy. Opposition Deputy Leader Prasanna Acharya met with former ministers Ashok Panda, Bhupinder Singh, Shashibhushan Behera, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, and senior MLA Badrinarayan Patra during this advisory council meeting.
The discussion focused on the circumstances surrounding a change in the party president’s decision. It was agreed that senior leaders would meet with the president to address this issue.
After the meeting, Prasanna Acharya explained that this is part of a series of meetings held by senior party leaders to discuss various matters. Today’s heated debate centered on the Rajya Sabha issue, specifically the concerns regarding the alteration of the party’s decision.
Acharya noted that in a previous parliamentary party meeting, party president Naveen Patnaik had decided that BJD MPs would oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, and instructions were given accordingly. The sudden reversal of this decision had raised significant questions within the party. Consequently, a meeting with the president has been scheduled to discuss these changes.
Senior MLA and former minister Badrinarayan Patra expressed suspicions of some form of manipulation, stating that it is unclear who altered the decision and for what reason. Acharya and other senior leaders echoed this concern, emphasizing that the party’s stance against the Waqf Bill had been clearly communicated prior to the vote, with MP Munna Khan also addressing the issue.
MP Munna Khan stated that there is confusion over how the decision was changed and why a whip was not issued. BJP state president Manmohan Samal commented on the situation, acknowledging that they are aware of the internal dynamics within the BJD. He welcomed the fact that some MPs voted in favor of the Waqf Bill at the Prime Minister’s request, but he could not specify why the decision changed or who was responsible for the alteration.
Additionally, BJP MLA Babu Singh remarked that the BJD is heading towards division, highlighting discrepancies in voting during both the Assembly and Parliament sessions. While some MLAs participated in supporting the University Amendment Bill, others did not, indicating that the BJD may struggle to maintain unity moving forward.
