Tensions flared at Naveen Niwas, the residence of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as a group of Muslim representatives, led by BJD MP Munna Khan, staged a protest on Monday morning.
The demonstrators, chanting slogans like “VK Pandian Go Back” and “VK Pandian Leave Odisha,” demanded action against party MP Sasmit Patra and others responsible for supporting the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Rajya Sabha. The protesters accused V.K. Pandian, Patnaik’s close aide, of influencing the party’s stance on the bill, which they claim went against the sentiments of the minority community.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, which passed the Lok Sabha on April 2, 2025, with 288 votes in favor and 232 against after a 12-hour debate, aims to reform the management of Waqf properties in India. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the bill seeks to ensure the permanent dedication of movable or immovable properties for religious, pious, or charitable purposes under Islamic law while enhancing transparency and promoting social welfare. However, the bill has sparked widespread debate, with critics arguing it undermines the autonomy of Waqf boards.
The BJD, which has no members in the Lok Sabha but holds seven seats in the Rajya Sabha, initially vowed to oppose the bill. On April 3, 2025, party spokesperson Sasmit Patra announced that MP Muzibulla Khan would represent the Muslim community’s concerns in the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing the party’s dissatisfaction with certain amendments made by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. However, in a surprising U-turn, the BJD later declared it would not issue a party whip, leaving the decision to its MPs’ “conscience.” This shift drew sharp criticism from the party and the minority community, culminating in Monday’s protest.
Visuals from the scene show a large crowd gathered outside Naveen Niwas. The demonstrators accused Pandian, a former IAS officer from Tamil Nadu and a key figure in the BJD, of orchestrating the party’s change in stance on the Waqf Bill. Pandian, who quit active politics in June 2024 following the BJD’s loss in the Odisha assembly elections, has long been a polarizing figure. His influence over Patnaik had already caused friction within the party, with some leaders blaming him for creating an “invisible barrier” between Patnaik and other party members.
The protest also highlighted growing discontent within the BJD. Senior leader Pratap Jena echoed the demonstrators’ sentiments, urging Patnaik to take disciplinary action against Sasmit Patra for his vote in favor of the bill. The BJD’s internal rift comes at a challenging time for the party, which has been struggling to redefine its role as a strong opposition after losing power to the BJP in the 2024 Odisha assembly polls. The party also failed to secure any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, further weakening its position.
Naveen Patnaik, who has led the BJD for over two decades, now faces the dual challenge of maintaining party unity and addressing the concerns of the minority community, a key voter base. The absence of a clear successor, coupled with Pandian’s diminished role, has left the party in a precarious position. Some BJD insiders fear that the party’s legislature could see defections, with BJP MLA Prasanta Kumar Jagadev claiming that 25 BJD MLAs might soon join the ruling party.
The current unrest over the Waqf Bill underscores deeper ideological and leadership challenges within the BJD, raising questions about its future direction under Patnaik’s leadership.
As the BJD grapples with internal strife and external criticism, all eyes are on Naveen Patnaik to see how he will navigate this crisis and restore confidence among his party and its supporters.
For now, the echoes of “VK Pandian Go Back” continue to reverberate, signaling a turbulent road ahead for the BJD in Odisha’s political landscape.
