Distinguished hotelier and former Union minister Dilip Ray’s current Rajya Sabha victory has not solely uncovered the widening rift throughout the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) but additionally uncovered a gaggle of “grouped” leaders who’ve been excluded from the occasion through the years.
For a number of senior leaders struggling to take care of political relevance, Ray’s victory over the BJD is seen as their very own. Whereas some hinted at the potential for a brand new political alliance, citing the “legacy of Biju”, issues are more likely to change into clearer forward of subsequent yr’s panchayat and state-wide citizen polls.
Instantly after the March 16 vote, celebrations started on the residence of Mr. Ray’s shut aide, Bijoy Mohapatra. Veteran leaders like Pravat Tripathy, Ravi Pani and Amar Satpathy have been additionally current. Tripathy’s son, Banki MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy, was additionally amongst those that voted in opposition to the occasion line.
Mr. Ray and Mr. Mohapatra, who have been as soon as near former state chief minister Biju Patnaik, performed key roles within the formation of the BJD in December 1997. Nevertheless, each have been later “unceremoniously” expelled from the occasion following a falling out with occasion founder Naveen Patnaik.
Mr Mohapatra’s supporters described Mr Ray’s victory as “revenge” in opposition to Mr Patnaik after 25 years.
In 2000, when the BJD joined arms with the BJP to contest the meeting polls, Mohapatra was instantly denied the ticket. A day after Patkura filed his nomination, his candidature was withdrawn and he was changed by Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak. Mohapatra failed to use for a brand new nomination in time and was later expelled.
After the Rajya Sabha outcomes, Mohapatra mentioned preparations for Ray’s victory as an impartial have been underway for the previous two months. He additionally identified inner discord throughout the BJD and steered the necessity for introspection. “It’s troublesome to foretell the longer term, however 2026 will probably be an essential yr for Odisha politics,” he mentioned.
Sources mentioned Mohapatra had met senior BJD and Congress leaders, together with a retired military officer whose son is a regional occasion MLA, in search of assist for Ray.
BJD leaders claimed that Naveen Patnaik may need been conscious of those initiatives and that might clarify the suspension of MLAs Arvind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud on January 15.
Elections have been held for 4 seats within the Rajya Sabha, however the focus was on these 4 seats, with no occasion displaying a transparent variety of seats. The BJD fielded Dateshwar Hota as its widespread candidate beneath an settlement with the Congress, however the contest intensified when Ray contested as an impartial with assist from the BJP.
The BJD secured a surplus of 18 votes after securing one seat and was anticipated to make sure victory for the widespread candidate with assist from MLAs, Congress and CPI(M) members. Nevertheless, a adverse vote by eight BJD MPs and three Congress MLAs helped Ray win.
After his victory, Ray mentioned he was anticipating assist from 18 MLAs from BJD and Congress mixed, and each events have been beneath stress to determine these concerned.
Some BJD MPs defended the BJD’s determination and criticized the occasion’s present functioning, saying they’d voted to guard the “Biju custom”. Hours earlier than her suspension, Devi Ranjan Tripathy, alongside together with her father, made a present of energy in a constituency the place BJD flags and symbols weren’t outstanding. Tripathi used Biju Patnaik’s picture as an alternative.
MLA Suvich Biswal, who was additionally suspended, mentioned he most popular expulsion to suspension. His father, former MLA Prabhat Biswal, who’s near Ray, additionally expressed related views.
Tripathy and Biswal additionally questioned the functioning of the occasion, alleging that Naveen Patnaik’s former non-public secretary VK Pandian continues to run the occasion regardless of asserting his retirement from lively politics.
Whereas the BJD has threatened authorized motion in opposition to MLAs for cross-voting, the Rajya Sabha outcomes have highlighted rising discontent throughout the occasion.
“Even when the suspended MLAs didn’t straight query Naveen Patnaik’s management, it’s clear that not everybody will settle for each directive with out questioning,” mentioned a senior BJD official.
Along with the 2 earlier this yr, six extra occasion MLAs have been suspended, decreasing the occasion’s energy within the meeting to 42.
