Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was re-elected as the president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for an unprecedented ninth consecutive term on Saturday, solidifying his enduring influence in Odisha politics.
The re-election took place during the party’s State Council meeting at Sankha Bhawan, where Patnaik’s name was unanimously proposed for the post, as announced by the BJD. A felicitation ceremony followed, with party leaders honouring Patnaik.
Patnaik, who has led the BJD since its inception in 1997, remains a towering figure in the state despite recent challenges. The 78-year-old leader, also the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, reflected on his tenure, stating, “The BJD government from 2000 to 2024 achieved significant development for Odisha and brought recognition to the state at both national and international levels.” His comments, however, come at a time when the party is navigating internal tensions and external criticism.
The re-election follows a turbulent period for the BJD, particularly after its MPs displayed rare disunity during the Rajya Sabha voting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, earlier this month. On April 5, four BJD MPs supported the bill, while three opposed it, prompting sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP accused the BJD of inconsistency, with some leaders alleging that the party was attempting to balance its secular image with political pragmatism. This split has raised questions about Patnaik’s ability to maintain party discipline, a hallmark of his leadership over the past two decades.
Despite these challenges, Patnaik’s re-election underscores his unchallenged grip on the BJD. The party, named after his father and Odisha’s iconic leader Biju Patnaik, has historically dominated state politics, with Patnaik leading it to multiple electoral victories, including a landslide win in the 2017 Panchayat elections where the BJD secured 766 out of 853 Zilla Parishad seats. However, the party’s recent electoral setbacks, including its ouster from power in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections, have put pressure on Patnaik to redefine the BJD’s strategy as an opposition force.
As Patnaik embarks on his ninth term as BJD president, all eyes are on how he will navigate the party through these choppy waters, balancing his legacy with the demands of a rapidly changing political landscape in Odisha.
