The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha finds itself amid growing internal discord, as senior leaders voice concerns over the increasing influence of former 5T Chairman VK Pandian in party affairs. The latest criticism comes from ex-BJD leader Prasanna Patasani, who has openly accused party supremo Naveen Patnaik of relying excessively on Pandian, claiming it has led to the party’s political setbacks.
In a pointed statement, Patasani alleged that Patnaik is “telling lies with signals from Pandian” and that Pandian is essentially running the party from behind the scenes. He said, “Everything will stop without Pandian. What kind of democracy is this? Nobody has the right to threaten like this in a democracy.”
Patasani also expressed his dismay over unfulfilled promises made to him during his time in the BJD, while blaming Pandian’s growing role for the party’s defeat in the recent elections. “Worthy leaders were denied tickets, and many within the party felt suffocated,” he said.
He further questioned the Chief Minister’s judgment, asking, “Why is Naveen babu so afraid of Pandian?”
The comments follow similar allegations from other political figures, including Prafulla Mallik and Nrusingha Sahu, who have also pointed to Pandian’s political involvement as a major reason behind BJD’s declining electoral performance.
BJD Responds
In response, senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra dismissed the criticism, taking a lighter tone. “When Baba (Patasani) was in the BJD, he wielded his ‘danda’ and had influence. He’s a good man, and wherever he goes, that influence will follow,” Mishra remarked.
As internal tensions mount, the controversy surrounding VK Pandian’s role continues to spark debate within Odisha’s political landscape, with potential implications for the party’s future direction.
