In a significant setback to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), former Lok Sabha MP from Balasore Rabindra Kumar Jena formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, just a day after quitting the regional outfit.
Jena, accompanied by his supporters, enrolled in the BJP at the party’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar during a ceremonial event. Several leaders and workers from Balasore, Mayurbhanj, and Bhadrak districts, including block presidents and zilla parishad members, also switched allegiance to the saffron party alongside him.
Addressing the gathering from the BJP platform, Jena launched a sharp critique of the BJD, particularly targeting its leadership and future prospects. While expressing continued respect for BJD founder Biju Patnaik, he said his admiration for Naveen Patnaik persists but emphasised that “age is no longer on his side.”
Jena highlighted the absence of a clear succession plan as a critical weakness. “I had advised Naveen Patnaik that if he wants BJD to continue ruling Odisha, he must prepare a successor. But nothing was done,” he stated. He argued that without an heir apparent, the BJD would struggle to provide good governance and could face decline.
Drawing parallels from other regional parties, Jena pointed out successful transitions in the Bahujan Samaj Party (where Kanshi Ram chose Mayawati), Samajwadi Party (Mulayam Singh Yadav handed over to Akhilesh Yadav), and DMK in Tamil Nadu (M. Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Stalin). In contrast, he cited the downfall of Punjab’s Shiromani Akali Dal and Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK due to failures in leadership succession.
“Any regional party that fails to plan for succession has sunk in the country. BJD lacks a roadmap, and without it, the party will go downhill,” Jena warned.
He described his decision to leave the BJD after 12 years as a difficult one, driven by circumstances that left him and others with no choice. “We no longer believe BJD can deliver good governance for Odisha’s people in the coming days,” he added.
Jena justified his move to the BJP as motivated solely by the development of Odisha and the nation. “I have joined for the progress of the region. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, development is reaching every corner. Development is not possible without BJP,” he asserted.
The switch comes amid heightened political activity in Odisha, including concerns within the BJD over the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, where the party faces challenges in securing seats and has fielded a common candidate with Congress support for one position.
Jena’s exit and public criticism add to the pressure on the BJD, which has seen internal rumblings and defections in recent times.
